SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1561, 17 June 1920, Page 5

SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

CENOTAPH IDEA FAVOURED. A further meeting of the Citizens' Committee to consider the erection of a war memorial in Palmerston North. was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. The Mayor (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.) presided. Mr \V. Jones waited on the meeting •with a number of specimen photographs of columns in English granite. In reply to questions from Mr Johnston, Mr Jones said that English granites would probably cost at Home about 30/ per cubic foot in the rough. blocks, and about £4 to £5 delivered out here. In the course of the debate on tne question, Messrs T. R. Hodder, H. M. Haycock and J. M. Johnston spoke in favour of erecting a column m the Square as the most suitable form of memorial. Mr Johnston favoured a column of the cenotaph type, after the same style as the memorial erected at Westminster in London. It was pointed out by the supporters of the column scheme that a memorial of that nature would be a permanent structure and would stand for ever as an inspiration to future generations. Mr E. H. Crabb said he had a strong feeling that a hall of memories attached as a vestibule to the future town hall would be the best means of perpetuating the memory of those who had fallen. It would provide space on the walls for the names of those who had died and those who had left the district to go to the war. He had a vision of a town hall in the centre of the Square which the railwav now occupied, the main entrance of which might serve as a memorial, or the cenotaph, if agreed upon, could be placed in front of the building. . The Mayor favoured the idea of a column. The question of funds to pay the cost of the memorial was raised. It was generally agreed that if an appeal were made to the. people of the town and district, it would be generously responded to. It was eventually decided to recommend to the Borough Council the adoption of the following proposals for memorials: (1) A suitable monument in the form of a cenotaph made of New Zealand stone, to be erected in the Square; (2) A cairn of stones to be erected on Anzac Park. The committee will undertake to proceed with the collection of funds to cover the cost of the memorial, if the suggestions put forward are agreed to by the Council. ■» g»