Editorial Comment

Progress, Volume X, Issue 2, 1 October 1914, Page 41

Editorial Comment

We make no apology for reprinting in full the remarkable speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln on the battlefield of Gettysburg during the course of the American Civil "War. It has always struck us that it is, perhaps, the greatest and most touching ever delivered. We can only compare it, in its great magnetic force and suggestive power, to the one made by Shakespeare's Mark Anthony over the body of the murdered Caesar. As everyone knows the speech was delivered over the graves of the heroes who died at Gettysburg fighting for the cause of freedom. The Speech is as follows:"Fourscore-and-seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate —we cannot consecrate —we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— that Government of the people, by. the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." It is now a little over fifty years ago since these words were uttered by the Great President. We

think many scores of fifty years will pass before the world forgets them despite Lincoln's own prophecy to the contrary in the speech itself. In the hearts of all true Americans they should and probably will be treasured and preserved for ever. An effort is being made in Dunedin to obtain a standard sized brick for building purposes. A committee of local Architects invited the brickmakers to meet them in conference to consider the suggestion, and we understand that they unanimously agreed to meet the Architects, and stated that they would be glad to fall in with the suggestion and alter the size of local bricks to a standard size to be agreed upon. * # # # # It is pleasing to see that Auckland has seen fit to ask the advice of Mi'. Davidge, who recently visited N.Z. on a lecturing tour with Mr. C. C. Reade in connection with the erection. of homes suitable for workers which it is proposed to erect on the old abattoir site at Richmond, Auckland. Though we have not heard of any, we hope Auckland was not the only city that took advantage of Mr. Davidge's visit.

In his report to the City Council, he said "I am strongly of opinion that the lower portion of the slope should be reserved for a public park and for recreation purposes. By reserving this lower portion the cost of development will be reduced to a minimum, and the difficulties of steep grades and costly road grading may be avoided. The upper portion of the site provides ample space for the immediate housing needs of the district and should, with economical development, give a very satisfactory revenue on the outlay necessitated. The reservation of the lower portion of the site for park purposes will leave the council free, at a later date, to take steps to secure the reservation of the remainder of this beautiful valley, extending from Archhill Gully to the harbour. Although it is somewhat out of the scope of this report, I may mention that the city would do well, in my opinion, to acquire control gradually of the many beautiful gullies which are such a unique feature of the town." He considered the site very suitable for the purpose, and strongly advocated the preservation of the beautiful views to be obtained from the high ground of the site.

A point that Mr. Davidge made in his report was that the council should keep control of the estate, the idea being to work on the English system (in the modern-planned towns) of one central authority who shall be referred to and who shall have power to negative any proposal brought before it that will in any way act deleteriously against the scheme as laid down by the authorities. Short tenancies are suggested giving- the council power to approve or veto any building or structure of whatever kind that might be contemplated. In Great Britain the usual policy in providing workers' homes was for the local body to lay out the necessary roads, build the houses, and let them at weekly rents. If it was not intended to sell the separate

subdivisions there would not appear to be any statutory requirement to provide roads of the full width of 66ft., but it would be well, in any case, Mr. Davidge held, to set the houses sufficiently well back from the road to allow, in case of need, the statutory, width to be dedicated at a later date.

The plan accompanying the report showed on the highest part of the land a central square reserved for a children's playground or a bowling green, with houses grouped on three sides. Trees, Mr. Davidge said, should be planted at each side of the green, leaving the central space free for the general use of the tenants. On the south side of the square a site should be reserved in a central position for a club of other public building, and for a public institute.

As far as houses themselves were concerned he favoured the individual or semi-detached house as against the terrace house. It would be found that owing to the steep slope of the hill it would be both economical and more effective to place houses on the upper side of the road only, thus securing for each house an uninterrupted view across the valley. The construction and design of the houses should be varied as much as possible, but those buildings grouped around a particular open space should harmonise in general character and a general architectural character should be given to the whole. # # # # # There are decided signs of the depression which overcame the Dominion on the outbreak of war lifting. Mr. Massey in discussing the question of the Elections said:—"There is not now existing the stress and excitement that was general three weeks ago. People had made up their minds that there could be only one possible outcome of the war, but they had also made up their minds that the war would not come to an end quickly. As a consequence, people were settling down to their normal and ordinary business in a normal and ordinary way.''

This applies to the building trade as to all businesses, and it is sincerely to be hoped that those contemplating building will not stop development work, but show their loyalty by continuing to keep the trade employed, thereby relieving the stress that is already in our midst. In Australia Mr. Griffen, Minister for Public Works for New South' Wales stated to a representative of "Building" that "The principal danger to the building trade likely to seriously hamper matters is the restriction of credit on the part of the banks and other institutions handling and controlling our capital, but I must admit I am unable to see, at present, any reason for such curtailment." The banks in Australia have not raised their interest, and the government there is pushing on with its development work as though nothing had happened. If this happy state of affairs is imitated here it should go a long way to stop any further distress happening in New Zealand. We in New Zealand are in a position much more fortunate than the Mother Country, and there is no reason other than sheer timidity why building operations should not proceed on normal lines.