GUNS IN RESERVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 8

GUNS IN RESERVES.

CHBISTCHURCH CITY BAN.

LABOUR COUNCIL'S ACTION.

OF OPINION.

"FIT FOR AUCKLAND MUSEUM."

[BI TELEGBAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday.

"That the Reserves Committee request the Defence Department to remove the guns on our various reserves" was the wording of the motion proposed at last evening's meeting of the City Council by JJr. J, W. Roberts (Labour). The council also had before it a letter from the JWar Museum Committee, inquiring to what extent the various trophies were being utilised, and cared for, and whether there was any possibility of any being made available to applicants, as the supply available for distribution had for nome time been exhausted.

In proposing his motion Mr. Roberts said he wanted to see such excrescences removed from public places. The guns were barbarous relics, and to carry out the scheme properly skulls should be placed on pickets in the vicinity of the guns. Such old machinery was out of place among flower beds. There were sufficient reminders of the war to be seen ia Christchurch to-day in the number of returned soldiers. He was not moving the motion from any pacifist motives, in fact, he did not think any such organisation would accept him as a member.

The motion was seconded by Mr. F. R. Cooke, who said the guns would be better used if made into ploughshares. The Mayor: The guns were a gift to the city from the Defence Department. The mover, on the suggestion of the Mayor, agreed to alter his motion to the effect that the Defence Department should be informed that the council was prepared to return the guns.

Re'ducing " Warlike Toys." Mr. C. Carr suggested that those iuwas still sufficiently barbarous should have the privilege of showing off such trophies. "How many people," he asked, "would regard them as the awful example to be avoided, and in how many people would these mementoes stir up warlike feelings?" The children who gambolled round the guns were encouraged to play at soldiers. He wafc glad a campaign had been launched to reduce the number of warlike toys given to (children.

Mr. J. W. Beanland said the discussion savoured of disloyalty. He ridiculed the idea that the trophies would encourage a warlike spirit. "What harm aro they doing V he asked. "It 13 only a paltry way of expressing disloyalty, and the people of Christchurch who are loyal will not stand for this thing." Mr. G. Manning said the guns should be sent to the Auckland Museum, as relics of a barbaric age.

Mr. Beaven: I object to being called a barbarian.

Mr. Manning said he would not like to hurt the susceptibilities of those who associated with such trophies the loss of their dear ones.. The Defence Department gave the guns to incite in the minds of the young the glories of war. "We ought to do everything," he said, "to put them in the museum in Auckland." Sentimental Twaddlo.

Mr. M. E. Lyons said he regretted having to listen to the sickly sentimental twaddle they had heard., If they were going to foilow out the thing to its logical conclusion, they should ask that the coats of arms, spears and other curios in the museum should be taken out and dumped in the Avon, in furtherance of the policy of sticking their heads in the sand. The Mayor, Mr. J. K. Archer, said it ,was purely a matter of individual opinion. She Labour Party was not pledged on the question. Mr. Beanland's allegations of disloyalty were quite absurd. Loyalty did not mean adherence to a Conservative Government. The discussion had been a frightful waste of time. The proper place for the guns was a museum, not a garden. The motion was amended to read: "That the Reserves Committee arrange for the removal of the guns from our various reserves," and was then carried by 10 yoies to 6.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' VIEW. MOTION OF PROTEST PASSED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHUBCH, Tuesday. Both the Returned Soldiers' Association fcnd the Navy League are up in arms against "the decision of the Cnristchurch City- Council recorded last evening to remove from the city reserves all guns and trophies of war. They say the council is not fairly representative of the opinion of the citizens. At its meeting last evening the association passed a motion of 6trong protest, and it has been decided to tall a public meeting of protest.