COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 16

COMMEMORATIVE MONUMENTS

THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. July 13. In his speech in the Budget debate to-day, Mr K. S. Williams (Bay of Plentr) reminded the. Prime Minister of a promise he had made to do something to eominoirorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. He suggested that if the Government did not do it, private people should be allowed to take the matter up, but he thought the work was one for the Government to undertake. The monument need not be an elaborate one and it should be erected on the spot where the treaty was signed, so that future generations might see it. He understood that an acre of land had been reserved at the spot, and what, was not occupied by the monument could be planted with suitable native thees and some oaks commemorative of the Navy upon which the security of (he Empire and the dominion depended to such a great extent. Mr Williams further drew attention to the fact, that at the Ruapeka.peka Pa 70 British soldiers were buried, but there was 110 stone or stick to show who had died fighting. Although they were by now probably forgotten, he thought we owed some duty to them and to their relatives, and he commended it to the nolice of the Minister of Defence tbit some steps should be taken to mark tnair graves.