WAR MEMORIAL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11412, 8 January 1923, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL

SUGGESTED ERECTION IN HEART OF CITY THE OLD TURKISH BATHS SITE APPROVED OF COMPETITIVE DESIGNS TO BE CALLED COMMITTEE UNANIMOUS j . It is announced by the Wellington Citizens’ War Memorial Committee that, after holding numerous meetings and fivJng the question of site and the erection of a suitable tentorial thereon the fullest consideration, it has arrived at the unanimous dec.'sion that the old Turkish Baths site in Manners street, adjoining the Royal Oak, Is the best available, and that it will approach the City Council forth- ' with with a view to the granting of this site. Upon such site being secured, the committee will invite competitive designs for the erection of a monument that will conform to the present and prospective surroundings, and will be in every way a fitting tribute to the memory of the 1700 men of Wellington city and suburbs who fell in the Great War. The estimated cost of the memorial to be erected is approximately £IO,OOO, towards which some £2300 is now available.

SITES SUGGESTED

A UNANIMOUS SELECTION. The committee reports that the following sites were suggested for ihe erection, of the Wellington Citizens’ War Memorial:— (1) Parliamentary Grounds: (a) The temporary cenotaph site, comprising the small triangular piece of . ground at the corner of Lambton quay and Molesworth street; (b) in . the slope, inside the Lambton quay entrance. (2) On the green sward in front of Government Buildings, . Lambton quay. (3) Old, Turkish Baths site, Manners street, at the rear.of the Royal Oak Hotel. (4) Post Office square. (5) Basin Reserve: (a) End plantation separating Cambridge terrace and Kent terrace, and looking out on to the Basin Reserve; (b) fountain Site, Dufferin street; fronting Basin Reserve. , ,(6) Mount Cook flagstaff site., (7) Botanical Gardens .slope®; facing Anderson Park. : - SUB-COMMITTEE'S UNANIMOUS REPORT. ’ On finding that neither of the Parliamentary Grounds sites was available, and that the same applied to the Government Buildings site, the committee appointed a sub-committee to visit and report upon sites Noe. 3,4, 6, and 6. The sub-committee comprised Mr J. P. Firth, O.M.G. (ohairman), Messrs G. Mitchell, E. E. Muir, and the following architects: Messrs W. M. Page,-(acting-president of the. New Zealand Institute of Architects), J. F., Munnings, F. E. G-reenish,>and. .V.■■ P. Haughton. The sub-committee, eliminating the fountain site fronting the Basin Reserve,- the Post' Office 6quare site; and the Mount Cook flagstaff ' site as being unsuitable, unanimously reported on the remaining two sites as follows: “Tho plantation reserve at the'head of Cambridge and Kent terraces, looking out on to the Basin Reserve, at first view seemed to offer some, advantages; There is a certain attractiveness in the immediate setting—a hedge enclosure, shrubs and some-trees, and -thd open prospect of the -playing, ■area of green sward; Oii'nloser examf ination, however, it was found ihkt theiwidth of the site, .between the two streets was inadequate for a memorial of ahy size. The close proximity of tramway .overhead gear, and the possibility oft future tramway developments, constituted a further argument against it.' The -uncertainty as to the future architectural setting, if - tho memorial were placed there, also made it inexpedient for the committee to recommend this site. No one can tell what -will be the nature of the adjacent buildings in, the future. Another reason is that it is somewhat removed from the centre of the city, and it was strongly felt that guoh a memorial should be as centrally situated as possible. j Merits of the manners street SITE. , , 7“It is when citizens come to look for a site for such a memorial that they must realise the importance of having some sort of civic centre where a fitting position and setting may be found for important monuments, a position having dignity and spaciousness in its surroundings. Here in Wellington we have no such centre, and we are forced to look elsewhere for a site as near the centre of the town as possible. “The old Turkish baths site, Manners street, at the back of the Royal Oak Hotel, appeared to the committee to offer, in the circumstances, a very satisfactory solution. It is in the very heart of the city, and is extensive enough for the erection of a memorial of sufficient soale. Memorials are frequently placed in out of the way positions, and it is pathetic to see,' as is oiten the'- case, that they -aro forgotten and neglected. “A memorial placed here could never be forgotten and neglected; it,would be constantly before the public, thousands passing it daily, and it would always be well cared for. ; “The nature of the site affords great possibilities for its architectural treatment, and in the design of the memorial. The wide street (Courtenay place) dividing into two (Dixon street and Manners street) at this point provides the feeling of spaciousness so much to be sought for, and there is ample space for large gatherings oft people, such as are likely to take placeVm each Anzac Day. It has to be-admitted that the present surroundings are unlovely and tawdry, but we are, we sincerely hope and believe, about to emerge from a phase of tawdriness and disorder and to enter upon a better period when business firms will be fully seized of the duty they have in respect to the appearanoe of, the city. In future advertisements will be more disciplined, and there-will.be more dignity and decorum in j our streets'. - ' LOOKING TO THE FUTURE- ’ - 1 “Hitherto it has -been sufficient to aspire to mere commercial success, and we have adopted any and every means to achieve it, hut we are, let us hope, nearing the-end of- -this stage. Education must, before very long, secure more dignity and beauty in our buildings and thoroughfares. In addition the site is one of the most valuable in the city. This fact of itself should ensure that the type of building to. be erected fronting the sit-in the future will be in keeping with it; facing Mterjes of traffic thav must nl-

Wavs be business premises, and whenever built must have regard, not only' for the existing merits of the site, but for the future. The memorial will remain for all time, and if it is erected on this site we may, therefore, look forward with confidence to the. distant future knowing that the setting and surroundings will be appropriate and dignified. It is in this that the site makes its strongest appeal. “The oommittee is certain, also, that the placing of a beautiful memorial on this site will, in addition to right in the heart of the city, its chipf object, 'be a source of inspiration and assist the people of Wellington to discharge their civic duties as thoroughly, and loyally as their brave men did their part in the Great-War: “The committee feels ,very strongly that the memorial should stand right in the heart of the city, and for-‘the reasons .given above recommends that .it be erected on the site at the hack of the Royal Oak Hotel. THETYPEOF MEMORIAL, • “Regarding the typo of memorial to bo erected the committee recommends that: competitive" designs be called for throughout the Dominion, suoh memorial to take the form of a monument which will be in keeping alike with the site and the object to be served. In order that the best may be obtained it is obvious that this is the proper course, to pursue. On the question of cost the committee considers that a suitable monument can be erected for a Bum of £IO,OOO, and that the people of Wellington, for whom these men died, should asked to subscribe not' less than that amount. This, the committee would point out, is not too great a sum to expect the citizens of "Wellington to contribute, especially when it is remembered that the people of Auckland are aiming at £200,000, and have considerably more than half that amount already 'in hand, while Invercargill has already erected a memorial costing £BSOO, Dunedin 1 * aiming at £IO,OOO, and Christchurch has contributed £24,000.” At a general meeting of the Wellington Citizens’ War Memorial Committee, held—before the holidays, the report of the subcommittee as. .given above was • unanimously The members of the committee, other than those already mentioned, are :—Messrs Jj P. Maxwell, D. McLaren,. D. J. B. Seymour, W. Hardhani, V. 0., A: Fair, dark, T. Forsyth, C. A. L. Treadwell, W. Paacoe, and Wv S. Wilson. X • ! .

It was resolved to approach the City Council forthwith with" a view" to'the granting of the site, add; to request' the New Zealand Institute' of Architects to recommend the name of ajje- 1 presentative architect , for appointment as assessor for the. competition. The committee ■ hopes that the City Council will be able to seebits; way to grant the site immediately in oirder. that the design of the memorial may be selected by next Anzac Day, April 25th.