"LEST WE FORGET.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11990, 29 January 1920, Page 8

"LEST WE FORGET.”

“THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS* DEAD.”

Last evening a meeting was held in the Coronation Hall, Marton, to. discuss the erection of a memorial to our fallen soldiers. The attendance totalled 19, including three ladies. The Mayor, in explaining the object of the meeting, stated that Government was prepared to indemnify local bodies for donations towards Peace memorials, hnt this did not apply to the memorial in question. He read an apology from Mr Newman, who regretted being unable to attend, but would be , glad to «ooperate with Mr Glenn, M.P., in giving effect to the desire of the citizens of Marton and settlers of the district. Mr B. P. Lethbridge also sent an apology, and stated he would be glad to co-operate with the borough and district. The Mayor stated they were all sorry to hear of Mr Lethbridge’s continued illness. An apology was also received from Or Christensen.

Mr Bill said that as a member of the Patriotic Committee-he waa the first to suggest that the Mayor should call a meeting. There was no intention of asking tor a subsidy from the Government. A memorial should be erected from the district in honour of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. Ho was against a clock being put up as a soldiers’ memorial. They should put up a monument in respect to the soldiers, and not put np anything which was wanted and should have been put up before. (Applause) Mr Gorrie did not see any objection to a clock. He thought it would be an object lesson to people coming into town. Everybody would see that it was a memorial to those who had fallen. Monuments wefe all very well when they were new, but they were not kept as they should be. A monument in the street would be better than one in the Park.

Mr H. F. Arkwright favoured something like a permanent road, and on it a monument or crucifix, which would be consecrated and railed in. He did not favour a Town Hall or dance hall as a memorial. He suggested the Station road and an ornamental garden round the memorial.

Mr T. Fletcher thought a monument in the Park would be something for the children and coming generations to look at. He thought the Borough would see that it was looked after. Mr Kitcat did not consider any proposition would be satisfactory which was based upon utilitarian ideas. A good opportunity to provide a clock would be found sooner or later'according to the ordinary methods of procedure. It seemed to him we should have some memorial which would be a constant reminder to ourselves and our children of the service and suffering and sacrifice of our men. Whatever form the memorial should take he thou ugh t these principles should be borne in mind. It should stand out clear and alone. It should tell its own tale and fulfil no other purpose There was no place in the streets in Marton where they \ could find a suitable spot, but in' the Park there was more than one possible site. The memorial should certainly be a beautiful one, of the beat art and material we could procure The Mayor agreed that the suggeSr tion of Mr Kitcat was a good one, and he asked for an opinion from Mr de Berry of a clock monument which had'hoen erected in Hokitika Mr de Berry hoped that - Marton people would not go in for a similar tower. He did not think the occasion should he made one for supplying the town with something-which the town should supply itself. The memorial should bo one solely for the memory of those who had fallen. He hoped that the memorial if not beautiful would be simple and dignified.

The Mayor stated he had been impressed with tne tower at Hokitika, which had four panels on which were the names of those who had fallen in the South African War.

Mr Richardson pointed cut that if public funds were to he subscribed towards the memorial the utility view would loom large He favoured a memorial being erected Ly private subscription, and it should bo apart from what it was the duty of the Borough Council to provide. If they provided the funds privately they would have a free hand to erect any kind of memorial they desired. Mr Bill did not think the meeting could fix a design. They should set up a committee and invite designs. He did not favour a memorial of an ulitarian nature, but something as suggested by Rev Kitcat Mr Wilde was in favour of something of an utilitarian nature as an Peace memorial, but not for fallen soldiers.

Mr Bill said that as a member of the Patriotic Committee be had moved that the monument should be simply to those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. The Mayor thought a monument could be erected on tbe Wellington Road-Broadway corner. This would divert traffic and regulate speed. Mr Bill thought the idea a good one. A good monument could be erected and bo seen every day by every one. The Park was a good place but a good many people did net go there. Mr Fletcher did not think there was enough room, and people would not bo able to read the names. The place was most unsuitable, and Mr Richardson agreed that it would not practicable to put a monument there. *

Mr Arkwright thought a good concrete road would be a permanent memorial. Monuments were noticed but many did not know*- what they were for. Roads as memorials were being adopted in France. Mr Hunter did not think monuments appealed to the rising generation, and he did not think* they aronsed that feeling of patriotism which they should do. He thought it a good idea if a small Park could bo bought and a monument put there. The Park should he exclusively for children, and would create a reverential and patriotic spirit. Mrs Bill asked that a ladies’ committee he formed and that they be empowered to canvass for subscriptions, which she was sure they would have no’difficulty in getting. A meeting of ladies is to be called for this purpose.

Mr O L Harris did not like the idea of dunning people for subscriptions. Ho thought the lists should he open, hut this did not find favoui with the meeting. The following were appointed a committee to make enquiries of de

signs and gain farther information, and report to a future meeting: His Worship the Mayor (Mr W C Kensington, 1.5.0.), Rev Kitcat and Messrs A H Bill, H F Arkwright, J J McDonald, H H Richardson. Mrs A H Kniggp has charge of the secretarial work.