WERAROA’S MEMORIAL GATE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 April 1922, Page 3

WERAROA’S MEMORIAL GATE.

DISCUSSION AT RETURNED SOLDIERS’ MEETING.

The matter of establishing an official fallen soldiers’ memorial in Levin was given new life by a discussion at the annual meeting of Hie R.S.A. on Wednesday evening, when Mr Clere mentioned that the Weraroa Queen Committee proposed to erect a memorial gate. He had been under the impression, he said, that the soldiers’ memorial was to take the form of a stone in the gardens. He considered that the Weraroa Committee were doing a good work in erecting an ornamental gateway on what was at present an unsightly corner, but he questioned the rigid of the committee to call it a fallen soldiers’ memorial. It there was a committee set up to make arrangements for an official memorial, why Hie subsidiary scheme? The president (Dr. Gow) said he did not think it was a matter in which the RtS'.A. could interfere. It was open to Weraroa or any other suburb of Levin to put up'as many momerials as they could raise funds lor. Mr Plaster said he was on the Memorial Committee, and had heard nothing officially of Weraroa’s intention. The official stone w'ould not be in Levin in time for Anzac Day, but it would be ready for erection shortly. The committee had no idea of not including the names of fallen soldiers from Weraroa. on the Levin stone, although he understood (hose names wore to lie engraved on a plate on the gateway. Mr Clere remarked that anyone visiting the town and passing the gateway on the way from the station would naturally gather Hie impression that it was the Levin memorial. Mr Clark observed that Weraroa did not class itself as Levin.

The president said it was certainly open to the R.S.A. to express an opinion, and if it was the considered opinion of tlie meeting, a letter couM be sent to the Weraroa Committee pointing out that an official memorial was being erected, and that, it was undesirable to have the town’s energies divided by the erection of two memorials. However, as the Weraroa people were raising the funds themselves, lie did not think much could he said against it. Mr Clark: I do not think it would be wise to say anything. . Mr Clerc: It should be left until we see what they are going to do. They might not raise sufticient funds

Mr Stallard said in other towns the populace were allowed to put up memorial stones and plaques ad lib. There could he only one official memorial.

A member asked if in raising the funds the Weraroa committee were playing on people’s sympathy. 'File president replied that there was no suggestion of that, in fact, it was seldom mentioned that the gates were to be a soldiers' memorial .

Mr Stallard remarked, anent the question of whether sutticient tunds would be raised or not, that lie bad heard one party in Kevin was prepared practically to donate the gates. A member: A monument and a fate are two different tilings. (Laughter.) The president: Yes, that is so, but they may both he memorials. We should say nothing about it, because 1 think the gate will certainly improve The corner, and if we say too much it may have the effect of spoiling the effort. The question of finance, as far is we are concerned, does not enter into it at all. We have never been approached f° r funds. It was then agreed that no action lie taken.