The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1919. WAR MEMORIALS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 476, 28 October 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1919. WAR MEMORIALS.

THE controversy on the subject of war memorials that ha" been raging more or less spasmodically for many months in most places in the Dominion is, in its first phase, one between idealists and materialists as to whether or not the memorial shall be of an utilitarian nature, or a memorial only. Very soon the dead weight of materialism smothers the idealism, and then the dispute enters on its second phase, that is, a squabble between the materialists as to what form of utility the so-called memorial shall take. The ideal" ists still raise their voices in protest, but such are as cries in the wilderness. None heeds them, though .just to "'save face" the materialists agree that a memorial tablet, arch, or some such small adornment shall be attached to the utilitarian object For our own part, while we would rather be in sympathy with public opinion on this matter, we must confess that we are flatly opposed to the general view. We believe that a memorial should be a memorial and nothing else, just as a tombstone is a memorial to a deceased individual Whoever heard, for example, ot a relative erecting a building, say, instead of a tombstone, to the memory of a dear one lost, unless in the event of that building being a mausoleum purely and simply, like the magnificent Taj Mahal, at Delhi ? However, having satisfied the demands of conscience by straightforwardly stating our views, and realising that it would take about two thousand years to bring the materialists up to the standard of the idealists, we are prepared to accept the inevitable and support the proposal decided on by the residents of Pukekohe. This is to take the form of swimming baths, with a memorial arch at the entrance—the latter being the only really memorial part about it, though the residents have voted for baths, and not the arch, as the memorial. Unepiestionably, baths are greatly needed. In the near futare there will probably be,according to the statement of the chairman of the Pukekohe School Committee, between five and six hundred pupils attending the primary school, and the technical high school about to be built. As was stressed by Mr. D. R. Hamilton, teaching the art of swimming should be a part of the education of every boy and girl. It is an art the lack of which lays any person open to the liability of being drowned at any age of his or her life. Apart from the factor of preservation, it is recognised that swimming, like boxing, is a highly effective means for physical culture, in that it brings into play every muscle in the body. The old Grecian maxim of a sound mind in a sound body is particularly applicable in these days of stress and strain, and when oftentimes a person ol adult age can no longer spare time, apart from the struggle lor existence. for health-giving exercises On these grounds alone, if on no other, the erection of swimming baths would prove a boon to the community. And surely, it can be taken tor granted that the memorial at the entrance will be of such an imposing design and size that there will never be any doubt as to what it stands for. A committee will shortly be set up to arrange a campaign for hinds, and we trust that every resident will contribute generously according to his or her means.