RE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12016, 5 March 1920, Page 8

RE SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

AN OPEN LETTER To the Major of Martou, SIR, —I am writing to you, as head of the Permanent War Memorial Committee, in the hope that, ere it is too late, something may be done which will he in harmony with tin wishes of the Returned Soldiers o the district, and I can safely say th majority of the residents of Martor who, I take it, will be asked to sub scribe to the fund to be raised for this purpose. 1 have spoken to a great many of the Returned Soldiers and I can tell you, Sir, that there is great indignation amongst, them, that money should be thrown away In the perpetuation of the old Pagan custom of erecting monuments which are absolutely of no use, and never given a thought to, The idea is very pretty, very sentimental, andt incidentally very idiotic, and of no earthly use. It is the wish of the Returned Soldiers to whom I have spoken that there should be a Pavilion erected in the Park for the convenience of women and children, with proper conveniences for same, and possibly a memorial tablet on the building. As it is proposed to spend the sum of £ISOO or £2OOO on this memorial, would it not be better to ask dr Higgins to give a sketch plan of what could be done for this money in the way of a Pavilion? I would propose that a vote be taken on these two schemes, and I’ll willingly lay odds which way the cat jumps. These fallen soldiers—all veneration to their names—gave their lives in service to others, and I am sure would wish that the memorial took the form of s jmething that would be of service,'’ particularly to women and children for whom they fought and died.—l am ' ’ wT'-eT 'green?