CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16820, 27 May 1919, Page 9

CORRESPONDENCE.

WAR MEMORIALS. To tuo EdUar of \,n& ''Tunnm lteuid, ' bi,—l m not think 1 hd.-3 met «,i,h any augj, ition in your cji'umtir, .is to the ionu a loud \\m Alomon.il jsnouid uilcc, ei.copt th.it mauc ,uul importuned lui by the Returned Soidieis' Association— a fcokjieis' clubhouse containing u "Momoiul Hall." Ukis to be made luemoual by ha\ ng a li 31 , or n a mes> 0 i who have lost ther lives inscribed upon its walla- It appeals, to me tiiat the war was a gieatei thing than can be measured by trie nninbct ol deaths caus>e by it, and that a. W.u Memoiial to be worthy 0 t its object should be something T si y dlffeien t iiom what the RS A. idea would gw In the hist place it is questionable v liether i an j thing of a utihtanaii nafcuie nan be j inade a guitab'e mcmoiial, becau-e ft" t ndency will bo to value fci its useiulness arid to tlhnk of it ajid of it m that aspect. If such a memorul roukl bo devised and obtained, it should be something that will exptim itsell on casual inspection, or will evoke a curiosity and inquiry as : to its meaning that jnay be satisfied by closer inspection, and it should be something as widfely public as the war Has been, which an interior hall of a building could net be. ' A satisfactory War Memorial should commemorate its achievement as well as its cost and sacrifices. Its achievement—at all events we hope so —will be a long r&sb from war, an enduring peace. Somehow, then, the memorial | should embody this idea, whatever else it may suggest. I cannot pretend to si;e all that might and if possible should be embodied in a War Memorial, but I seem to see that its chief features should remind us of the cost of the war j in lives ana suffering and strenuous endeavour, artd most import aot'.y- of the outcome of the war. It might be an arch or a tomb, something massive, symbolic of t(he vastness of the effort, but above it, rising from it as ;t were, should be some figure or figures symbolic of the result.or results of the war; the principal element, as the rose upon its spray. It is conceivable that such elements should be worked into the facade of a building, though I do not myself see how, when the memorial would be as public as if it were independent: but it and not the building wouM be the memorial, and on all grounds) it would be better to have an independent structure. War is a rude, crude, primitive, strong thing, and I fancy the war itse'f might be well symbolised by a massive structure of rough and big blocks of doVrite, , supporting a fine figure of Peace, standing say, upon broken cannon to represent its outcome.' If we liaV3 nofc won an enduring peace, the figure should be a Niobe weep'ng ovfr a huge wasted endeavour. I am, et-.'., ALTERNATIVE. ■

To the Editor of the' "Tlmaru Herald." Sir, —The welfare of the community is very closely associated with, a cratic solution of the problems involved in rehabitating the soldier, and were it not for the fact that a democratic principle is at stake I would not concern myself with anonymous correspondence. The ultra-importance of the Y.M.C.A. lias so far eclipsed the mental vision of your correspondent "Bed, White and Blue," that he regards the money now being raised for the E.S.A. Memorial Hall as a huge waste. The soldiers' need as reflected in a comfortable well equipped club ought to be subordinated to the business inspired philanthropy of the-- Y.M.C.A. Why not? The questions raised by "Bed, White and Blue" are totally irrelevant to the main issue The question at issu'e is what is the collective wish of the members of the U.S.A. Evidently.they are strongly opposed to any further association with* the Y.M.C.A. That being so, the community has everything to gain and nothing to regret by facilitating the success of the R.S.A. Memorial Hall. In the past many costly and extensive schemes have failed to ensure-' that welfare for the returned soldier which so many ardent statesmen and other well-meaning persons desired, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that no scheme will prove sur-eeqpful which is inconsistent with the collective desires and preferences of the returned soldiers. —I am, etc., OBSERVER.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.' To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald" Sir,—Now that the housing problem is becoming so acute T should like to say a word or two regarding the position, iri Timaru. For some months past properties hare been freely selling, with the result that tenants of years standing have been forced to find other accommodation. The position just now is excedingly acute, for dwellings have become absolutely impossible tto rent, and even rooms are at a premium. In fact, even where furnished rooms can be secured it comes very hard on the working community to pay for these whilst their _ own goods have to be stored or sacrificed at the auction mart. Where there are young families the situation is exceedingly worrying, for in the event of being unable to secure private homes '(of some sort or other) the unfortunate parents are obliged to seek board. This is particularly hard to find as adult boarders refuse tot remain where there are children, and the position becomes more serious than ever. Indeed in the case of working .men with families too, boarding becomes almost an impossibility, for with the present high cost of living the housewife must necessarily exercise sill her powers to make both ends meet. "We have heard a good deal laitely .concerning the possible erection of standardised houses, but how long are we to await further proceedings. What are the people to do in the meantime, even if operations commenced immediately, and each da.y sees the position more acute? Our boys are coming _ back in'batches each month, either bringing home wives or marrying and settling upon return, and in nearly every instance acquiring homes of their own. Now, seeing that building operations have been susnended din-mg the war'perind how arehomes to be brovided for all,'and with the likeb'hood of an early invasion of immigrants tthe position will become decidedly serious unless something is done without delay.—l am, etc MOTHER OF FOUR. To the Editor of the "Timani Herald-" Sir,—l must contradict Father Bartley s figures and statement of the waro of generosity on the part of the "V..M.C.A. as regards exchange. Whilst I was in France the official rate as fixed by the chief army cashier was invariably given, and I cannot imagine a different practice previously. 'For half a crown the exchange was 3 francs 40 centimes, and for 6d 70 centimes. The French rooked Tommy in exchan&e, nofc the Y.M.C.A. I canuot enter into n .controversy on prices; but a profit made at my particular hut went for the benefit of the soldier somewhere. The huts, canteens, and dugouts were run by voluntary unpaid workers, who Wro out to do their best to serve the soldier and would not allow him to bs treated ungenerously.—l am etc. ~, S.' F. SMITHSON. Timaru, May 26-