THE TOURNAMENT FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 303, 23 December 1898, Page 2

THE TOURNAMENT FUNDS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lt. is all verj r well for the committee of the Queen's Statue Fund to hold an indigmation meeting because they cannot get the balance of the tournament funds; but they seem to overlook the fact that there is another side of the case. For instance, with, my wife and family I attended the sports; but I should certainly not have paid the 10/ it cost us for admittance unless my money was going to the children's hospital. I distinctly asked this question of the gate-keeper, and was assured that while it was not yet decided if the whole of the "proceeds would go to . this object, yet it was arranged that it should be the case with those who wished it. I should certainly not have gone to this extravagance unless I had been convinced it was so. There were many hundreds who were there under similar impressions. It is all 'bunkum' the talk of disloyalty to the \Queen, etc., as Her Majesty expressed in the strongest terms her wish that her Jubilee should be honoured by the erection of hospitals or other institutions for the. relief of the sick and* needy; not by useless statues. I for one hope the committee will adhere to their resolution of giving the balance to charities. —Yours, etc., PATER FAMILIAS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The reading of the report of the Queen's Statue Committee meeting in .your morning contemporary's issue of this date almost makes my blood boil. The mass of misrepresentation put forward at the meeting was simply disgraceful. The City Hall meeting decided that the surplus funds should be donated towards the Children's Hospital Fund, which was to be erected as a memorial of the Queen's Jubilee, and I am decidedly of opinion that they should be so used. The" various societies and others of our city have contributed the necessary cots, and the members of the same societies patronised the sports on the supposition that the funds were to be applied to the object decided upon by the citizens-of Auckland. Such decision was given at the City Hall by a public meeting. By all means let us have the Queen's statue: and all honour to -Messrs Cairns. Beattie, and others, who are prepared to contribute towards the sum necessary to carry the undertaking- to a successful issue. Fair play is a .jewel; let not those who have the power of money at their back take an undue advantage. 1 say distinctly 1 bought several°tickets on the understanding that the funds were for the Children's Hospital, and so did many more of the members of the A.O.F.