WAR MEMORIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1945, Page 7

WAR MEMORIAL

AUCKLAND MUSEUM HIGHER CONTRIBUTIONS Parliamentary Rejiorter WELLINGTON, this day The Auckland War Memorial Museum Maintenance Amendment Bill was put through all its remaining stages in the House of Representatives yesterday and passed without amendment. The bill increases the local bodies' contributions, and provides for the election to the governing body of the institution of one representative of the combined borough councils of Birkenhead, Devonport, Northcote and Takapuna. Mr. Richards (Govt., Roskill), who had charge of the measure on behalf of the Speaker, Mr. Schramm, in moving the second reading, said the museum was maintained by contributions from 24 local bodies on the basis of 5 l-3d per head of population. This brought in £5700 annually, and it was proposed in the bill to increase the contribution to 9id per head, making a total of £10,668. All the local bodies had accepted the proposals, excepting the Manurewa Borough Council, which felt it could not at present finance its proposed share. The first increased payment was to begin in June, 1946. The museum urgently needed more income, because its revenue from endowments was falling, and while the local body contributions were fixed the purchasing power of the pound had'fallen.

Opposition members: That's an admission. (Laughter.) "Well, that's the statement," retorted Mr. Richards.

Value of Institution Mr. Algie (Nat., Remuera) referred to the cultural value of the institution, which, he said, was a worthy war memorial. The bill had the support of the local bodies already contributing. It would bfe nothing but a crime if the increased powers asked for were denied. The memorial stood on a hill which made it a landmark, not only to the residents of Auckland, but to those who approacl J the city by land or sea. Mr. Coleman (Govt., Gisborne), chairman of the Local Bills Committee, said there had not been complete unanimity shown by the local bodies. The Takapuna Borough Council had strongly opposed the legislation.

When the bill was in Committee, the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, paid a tribute to the farsightedness of those responsible for the erection of Auckland's war memorial. It was a noble building, erected on a wonderful site, from which one of the most glorious views in the world could be obtained. He congratulated Mr. Richards on successfully piloting through the House his first bill.