WAR MEMORIAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 3 December 1920, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL.

GATEWAY TO BE ERECTED

A public meeting to consider the question of the erection of a War Memorial for Patea and district was held in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday night, His Worship the Mayor (A. T. Christenscn, Esq.) presiding.

Messrs. Strouts, F. Locker, Holtham, Harrison, Lion, G. Horner, Mr and Mrs J. H. Cronin, Air. C. H. Fa invent her, Mrs. Kenworthy, Mr and Mrs Cooper, and Mrssrs N. C. Harding, Godfrey, and F. Mcivenna were also present.

His Worship, in opening the . meeting, expressed regret at the small attendance, and oxpl.ilned that the matter had been formally considered, but. unfortunately not gone on with. He hoped that the meeting that evening would come to some decision with regard to a memorial that would remind the people forever and ever of the sacrilice made by the local lads in the Great War. He was very anxious ,to see a memorial of some kind erected. It would be. a disgrace to the town if there were none.

Mr. F. Locker said he would move that the action of the Domain Board in approaching the Borough Council with regard to the War Memorial be endorsed, and that the memorial take the form of memorial gates, with the names of those who had fallen inscribed on tablets on the pillars. Mr. Harrison, in seconding the resolution, said he had previously brought forward the question of « memorial gateway fo the Domain, but the returned soldiers had subsequently brought forward a proposal with regard to a building, but this had not been gone on with, and he understood the returned men had abandoned their original idea. He explained ithat the Domain Board was about to remove the old gate, and they considered it would be better to have a gateway that would be a memorial to the fallen lads for all time. He hoped the public would support the Board in its efforts. The Board could not carry the scheme through without the aid of the public. In fact, it was not right that it should do so. He 'hoped the meeting would go on with the memorial. Mr. Lion said, being a newcomer to the district, he wovlj like some information as >to what had been done. He understood that a meeting had been held, and the matter referred to a committee for report, and so far no report had been forthcoming. He would like to move that the memorial take the form of an lonic or a Celtic Cross, about 20ft. high, placed somewhere in the main strccit. Something like this had been dono in the district in the South Island where he came from.

HLs Worship said a committee had been appointed to get into touch with the- Counitry Committees, but no agreement had been arrived at as to the form the memorial should take. Alton as a matter of fact, was erecting a memorial of its own. He would second the amendment pro forma. In his opinion the gaitcway would be a suitable memorial for Patoa.

Mr. Holtham said he would strongly favour the memorial gateway, as the Domain Board were the only body to bring forward a concrete proposal. Moreover, the >Jomain Ground was the proper place for a memorial, as it. was public ground. They had to thank the Domain Board for ithc proposal. Mr. Hemingway opposed the amendment, contending that the practice in these days of fast motor traffic was to remove all obstacles in the way of monuments in public streets. He instanced the case of the Grey statue and another monument in Auckland in support of his contention. He also rpiotcd the case of a Taranaki 'township where the Borough Council had decided to erect a band rotunda in the centre of the main street. The foundation stone was duly laid by the Mayor with much pomp and ceremony. Public opinion, however, was so strong against the street being blocked up that at the next meeting of the Council a motion was carried rescinding the. resolution authorising the erection of the rotunda, and the next thing was that the foundation stone was rooted out and relegated lo obscurity. He hoped no obstruction would be placed in the streets of Patca as suggested.

Mr. Cronin said the amendment would be in the nature of a curse to the town, for every motorist who visitPatea would not care to have an obstruction in the main street, 'ftlie Domain Board could do nothing without, the aid of the public. The principal reason why no memorial was being erected in Patea was the number of proposals brought forward and the amount of jealousy that ran ithrough the whole thing. Patea upheld its end of the stick during the war with any town in New Zealand, and many of the iineu had died in far-off lands and been buried there', and now there was no memorial for them, chiefly because of the haggling. Previously about fifty proposals had been brought forward, and it was a pity that no finality had been arrived at. With regard to the war memorial, he hoped the public would be just as loyal with regard ilo the monument as they were to the men while at the front.

In reply to Mr. Homer, Mr. Lion said his proposal was to erect a memorial in the main street, but lie would not name any particular site. Mr. Godfrey said that there was no getting away from the fact that the gateway to the Sports Ground should take pride of place among war memorials, as fully 80 per cent, of the men who went forward .to fight were "sports" The gate-- would be ovenlasting, would belong to the people, and would do good. His Worship said in his opinion the names of all who went from I'atea and the surrounding district should be inscribed on the gates, and not the names of .tlio fallen alone. Mr. Locker said there were some 'ISO men who had left the district. If an

inch wore allowed for each name there would cover two pillars 18ft. flin. high. The cost would be about 1/3 per letter. Then, aga-.u, !he men who were in camp on November L'Sth, 1;U8, were entitled to be classed as men who went to the war.

Mr. Godfrey said the men who pa'.d the supreme sacrifice should be the only men to have their names inscribed on the gates. Those who came back were lucky, «nd they wanted nothing better than to see the names of the fallen on the memorial. Mr F. S. McKcnna said it was a general feeling among the returned men that none but the names of .those who had fallen be inscribed on the gateway. The amendment w.us then put and lost, and the resolution put and carried.

His Worship next moved that the names of all who had left the district be inscribed on the memorial. Mr. Harrison seconded. Mr. Strouts said it would be practically impossible to ascertain the names of all who had left the district. The Patriotic League had tried, but the task was an impossible one. The resolution was then put and lost, and it was decided that the names of the fallen only be inscribed on the memorial.

His Worship said he hoped a strong committee would be formed to further the proposal and collect subscriptions. Personalty, he would be prepared to give £lO or more if necessary. (Applause.) Mr. Lion suggested that the Domain Board be a committee to obtain an estimate of 'he cost of the gateway. As "Leader of the Opposition" he would be prepared to assist in the project by every means in his power. (Applause.) His Worship said he would support the suggestion, which was unanimously adopted.

The following committee was then appointed: Messrs. Cronin, Godfrey, G. Horner, and F. Locker, with power to add.

It was resolved that a further meeting be held on Tuesday fortnight, when the estimate could be submitted by the Domain Board, and the report of the committee re funds received. It was also decided that the Mayoress be invited to convene a meeting of ladies to assist in the matter.

There being no further business the meeting closed with the customary vote of thanks to the chair.