MUSEUM MAINTENANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 266, 9 November 1928, Page 10

MUSEUM MAINTENANCE.

CITY'S CONTRIBUTION.

AHEAD OF RESPONSIBILITIES. DEFICIENCY OF INSTITUTE. A suggestion that the City Council should make a further contribution covering its obligations for next year towards the maintenance of the War Memorial Museum was made at last night's meeting of the council, when the financial difficulties of the Auckland Institute and Museum were again brought under notice. The institute reported that £2524 had been spent on the institution, and £4002 more would be required during the year. The estimated deficiency was £2050.

The Finan,ce Committee, after considering the application for further assistance, recommended that a reply be

sent to the institute stating that the council had provided £2000 in the estimates for the current year, and regretted that its financial position would jnot permit a further contribution to the museum.

In moving that the recommendation be referred back to the committee, Mr. J. A. C. Allum thought an opportunity should be given the museum authorities to state their case.

Mr. A. J. Entrican corrected the impression that the council was responsible for raising sufficient for the support of the museum. The council had power to raise a levj of up to Id in the £ for its support, but it was not compulsory for it to do so. Mr. E. J. Phelan believed the council was morally bound to assist. To-day the institute was absolutely "down and out," and unless it could get a guarantee that additional money was forthcoming, would not be able to complete the building, and men would be thrown out of employment. He urged the council to advance next year's quota for the museum in order that the work might proceed.

The Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon) said that the sum of £2000 only had been placed on the estimates.

Mr. Allum said it was a fact that the council did undertake to assist to maintain the museum, and was under the impression that £2000 per annum would be required. The institution was not yet completed, and contributions had been made both this year and last year. Therefore the council was actually ahead of its responsibilities.

The recommendation of the commit:ee was adopted, and the matter was •eferred back.