MEMORIAL DEFACED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 4

MEMORIAL DEFACED

VANDALISM AT MOUNT STEWART Strong comments have been passed by those closely connected with the erection of the two memorials on Mount Stewart at the action of vandals in thoughtlessly defacing not only the main provincial memorial but even the bronze tablet on the sundial provided by the Sandon Old Boys' Association in memo'f ,->*' district pioneers. By those who have an interest in the settlement and development of this area from the early days, the memorials are regarded most highly, yet the amount of -writing and scribbling of initials to be seen on both would suggest that there is a section of the community which would even scribble on a memorial to returned .soldiers if they had the opportunity. The two memorials were erected only after a great deal of planning and organisation and not a little hard work on the part of the sponsors of j the scheme, and since their establishment the spot has been a popular one for visitors to the district, travellers: Avho use the adjacent highway, and for j district residents enjoying a short drive. On the main memorial, pro- j vided through the efforts of the C'entennial Zone Committee, there are ; hundreds of names scratched on the' concrete and scribbled on paintwork on doors. I Twice already the Sandon Old Boys' ! Association has required to have the arm of the sun-dial repaired because' some person had broken it. Now j names have even been scratched on the bronze tablet which is set in concrete I and this tablet lias to bo removed and j sent to Wellington for treatment to i remove the defacing. It is stated that | if the practice continues police action l may follow.