WAR MEMORIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1922, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL

««©»■-— R.S.A. TAKE CHARGE. The offer of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to collect the necessary funds for the erection of the Grey district war memorial has been accepted by the War Memorial Committee, which met to consider the proposal on Friday evening. A deputation from the Association consisting of’Messrs Armstrong and Ryan were present. Mr Armstrong explained the scheme to the committee and said that tilts R.S.A. had no desire whatever to blame the committee. It came not only with a suggestion but an offer of help. They could arrange to col- , lect the funds on the same principle as the blind appeal, and if their efforts met with any success at all they would have the full amount collected in a month’s time. Mr Ashton moved that the offer bo accepted with the best thanks of the committee. It was a shame that they who did not go to the war could do nothing for the soldiers and that the soldiers on their return should them- j solves have to set about collecting for the memorial to their fallen com- I

The motion was seconded by Captain Colclough and carried. Mr Gillies said that the state of affairs into which they had drifted was a disgrace to the committee. Mr Armstrong: We don’t blame you. We know what you have had to contend with. The Mayor said that their first meeting was held in July last and they had since collected £l5O/11/9. They held six meetings after that, but other appeals, such as the Rcwa Hospital and other funds, had counteracted (heir efforts. He, too, agreed that it was anomalous that the returned soldiers should liavc to make the appeal, but on the other hand they ■would prove more successful than the citizens’ committee. After the committee meeting, the executive of the R.S.A. a meeting to decide what steps should bo taken. Messrs White and Armstrong were elected secretaries, and it was decided to open an account at the Post Office Savings Bank. June 30 was fixed as the closing date of tho campaign.

AN OAMARU FUNCTION. (Per Press Association.) OAMARU, June 4. The Prime Minister reached Oamaru on Saturday afternoon, and in the presence of a very largo concourse, unveiled the Oamaru South School Memorial Gates, “erected in proud and grateful memory of the services and sacrifice of pupils and teachers of Oamaru South School in the Great War, 1914-1918.” The gates are a massive structure of six pillars, and double and single iron gates, 7 suitably inscribed on two tablets, with a gilt school monogram on the gates. Mr Massey was accompanied by the Hon. D. T. Fleming of the Otago Education Board, and -was assisted at the unveiling by the Hon. E. P. Lee (member for Oamaru). The Prime Minister, who is suffering from a severe cold, after an exceedingly strenuous week in the south left at 5 o’clock and was motored to Temuka, where ho spent the night prior to departing for Christchurch. THE NEXT WAR. (Special to the Star.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 5. Speaking at the unveiling of a war memorial at West Eyreton, Mr Massey said that ho was not one of those who believed wo had heard the last of war, though he did not wish for more strife. He believed that when war did come again, it would come from Northrn Europe, Germany and Russia, • and they- would be powerful nations. He did not say that this would happen next year, or in 10 years, but it was for us to say that the manhood of the nation would stand up as in 1914.