WAR MEMORIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 9

WAR MEMORIALS

Sir,—l am prompted by your Forum of Monday concerning a war memorial—to put on record the dream of a boy who died on active service. As a schoolboy in 1939 his chief joy was to tramp the hills and country roads. On one occasion he cycled home for the holidays—--100 miles, on a 15-year-old bike, thereby saving his train fare, and contributing to the expenses of a mountaineering holiday. Thirty miles from home, a strong head wind and the antiquity of the bike forced him to spend the night by the roadside. That boy dreamt of a time when the country he loved would be accessible to the many, as well as to the few; when schoolboys like himself could explore country like south-western Otago without great privations; when right through this land there should be a chain of huts or hostels for youth. Could not a Dominion wat memorial take some such form? A project of this nature—wherein youth is encouraged to do that which is wholesome; to use initiative; and to fare forth with a spirit of adventure —should be of inestimable value to the character of the nation. A true sense of values should inevitably replace a tendency towards a narrow urban outlook. Strength of character, self-reliance and selfdiscipline are qualities greatly to be desired in the men of to-morrow. Viscount Montgomery, in his recent visit constantly stressed that. This suggestion is of ! necessity very wide. " Youth ” referred to includes secondary schoolboys who during one vacation of the year could, under expert supervision, help to open up tracks and erect huts, thereby doing their bit. Let us cut out the cold traditionalism of our war memorials and create something vital. They died that “we might live 1 , and that more abundantly. It is in our power to give substance to their dreams. I am, etc., vlslon .