THE RECORD REIGN MEMORIAL

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 149, 29 June 1897, Page 2

THE RECORD REIGN MEMORIAL

ANOTHER LONG DISCUSSION,

A PWBLIC MEETING ASKED FOR.

A meeting of the Record Reign Celebration Sub-committee was held yesterday afternoon, at the Municipal Buildings. Mr J. J. Holland presided. The accounts In connection with the recent celebrations were dealt with. The total amount of the liabilities incurred was about £50, including £12 12a for refreshments for the school children, and the Committee had £15 in hand. It was decided to pay the refreshment accounb out of tha monoy in hand. This left a balance of £2 Bs. A vote of tbanka was passed to all who gave money Bubscripbion,B or presents in aid of the celebrations. A meeting of the General Commemoration Committee was then held, His Worship the Mayor (Mr P. Dignan) taking the chair. The Chairman stated that the business was to deal with the accounts. There were liabilities amounting to about £37, and only £2 8i to meet them with. Mr Stichbury proposed, "That this meeting instruct the Secretary to respectfully apply to the Tournament Committee to hand over to the Mayor the neb proceeds of the two days' sports held in the Domain Cricket Ground, the same to be banked by him and held in truib for the purpose of building a Children's Hospital." Mr Stichbury gave detailed reasons in support of the motion. Mr Becroft seconded. Mr Garretb Baid he had received 1,000 tickets from the Secretary of the Tournament Committee, which had been sold to members of Friendly Societies on tho understanding bbab the proceeds were for the Children's Hospital fund. The money raised by the sale of those tickets would be kept in the bank until it was definitely known what scheme bad been approved by a majority of the public. Mr Allom said that any money collected by the Tournament Committee, no matter what promises might have been made to them, and no matter what tickets they had sold, must eventually legally go to the Statue Committee. Mr Holland did not think they could carry the resolution ab that meeting, which bad been called to square the accounts in reference to the celebrations. The Hon. Jennings thought the resolution was in ordtr, and said it pointed out a means of getting the money only to pay the accounts. Mr Upton wanted to know whether bhe General Commibfcee bad approved of the action of bhe sub-commibtee in incurring those liabilities; how they came to incur the liabilities without knowing how tho necessary money was to be raised, and thirdly, how they were to meet bhe liabilities. . . Tho Hon. Jennings said the original Commibbee had expected to pay all expenses oub of the proceeds of bhe tournament, but the Statue Committee had come upon the scene and upseb all bhe proposals made. The Mayor said they as the Commemoration Committee had nothing ab all to do with the money from tho tournament until ib was handed over to the object decided upon as a memorial. They had intended to raise money by snb»criptions, which were started by the Celebration Committee. Bub they did nob get a sixpence, for after the statue meeting everybody "froze up." Mr Upton said there were only two courses : either bo pay the debts themselves nr to ask tito Tournament Committee to pay them. Mr Crowther supported the latter course, and moved: "That the Tournament Committee be requested to pay the £36 oub of bhoir funds, to liquidate bhe accounts as passed by the Committee that day." Mr Stichtoary maintained that his resolution was already beforo the meeting, and was in perfect order, bub the Chairman ruled otherwise, and the motion was withdrawn. The Rev. Larkins seconded Mr Crowbher s motion t which was carried. Mr Bollard said the whole thing was a bungle from beginning to end. The Sbabue Commibtee were nob justified in what they did. They were perfectly justified in moving a resolution to erecb a statue, but they were nob justified in rescinding the former resolution in favonr of tho Hospibal. Therefore, he thought another public meeting should be called. The Hospibal Committee had jusb aa much right to call a meeting as bhe Statue Committee. He was quite certain that at the meeting the original proposition would be reinstated. Her Majesty herself had signified her wish that any memorials should take the form of charities. The Hon. Jennings moved, " That a public meeting of the citizens be called by His Worship the Mayor at an early date, and in the evening, to consider the question of claiming the funds in the hands of the Tournament Committee for bhe erection of a children's hospibal, as originally decided by a public meeting." Mr Jennings said he objected to the Statue Committee making a sorb of Jameson raid upon the funds, and he was prepared bo fight the matter oub. Tho Mayor, however, did nob 'pub bhe motion. He considered that the present gathering was nob sufficient guarantee for him bo call a public meeting, but he promised that if a good requisition were presented, not merely names, but a guarantee of attendance, ho would call a public meeting. With this understanding the meeting concluded.