THE SCOTT FUND.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14686, 7 June 1913, Page 16

THE SCOTT FUND.

GRANT FROM THE NATION

SUGGESTIONS FOR MEMORIAL,

fmiM OCR OWN COR__SI*OND_.\T.»

LONDON, April 30. Tlie Prime Minister has sent the following hitter to the Lord Mayor: —

'•My clear Lorel Mayor,— I have carefully considered tho provision to be maele by the Government, in accordance with tho undertaking given last February, for the dependants of Captain Scott and of those who so heroically lost their lives with him in tho Antarctic. Tho decision had to be postponed, as you know, until the return of Lady Scott to this country, but 1 have now had the opportunity of consulting her, and I think it well to specify our definite proposals in order that you may bo in a position to proceed with the allocation of the funds by the public.

"The Government intend to ask Parliament in due course to sanction a special vote sufficient to provide as follows : —

'•For Lady Scott, in addition to tho Admiralty pension of £200 per annum for herself and £25 per annum for her Eon. until ho reaches the age of 18, an annuity of £100. "For Mrs Scott, the mother, and Mrs Campbell and Grace Scott, tho sisters of Captain Scott, a joint annuity of £300. "For Mrs Wilson, tho widow, and Miss Mary Souper. the sister-in-law of Dr E. A". Wilson, a joint annuity of "For Mrs Evans, the widow of Petty Officer E. Evans, in addition to tho pension anel* allowances awarded to her by the Admiralty, amounting to 13s Gd a wt»ok, a further annuity of 12s Cd a

week for herself and 3s a week in respect of each of her children up to the age of 18. "'lhe Government of India, in whose I service Lieutenant Bowers was before joining the Expedition, has otlered to ! provnio lor his mother and eisujr.s pen- ' sions amounting iv all to £100 per annum. ! '-1 think that you will agree that ! these amounts fulfil our undertaking, while still leaving room for their equit- . able; augmentation from your iun<ln. in particular, we rely upon you to provide any as-iistanco that may bo required until such time? as the vote we are proposing to Par.iament is available.' On enquiry the "Morning Post'" learned in authoritative quarters that tlie ot trie names of relatives of Captain Oates Irom tiie list of tJ'.omj ior wrioni provision is to made was obviously eiue to tlie lact that lie was po.s«os>se:cl of ampe means and was uumarrieHl. It was added that it was prou.ujlo that a portion oi the funeis wouiti l>e UirectW to some- fitting mej moriui of Captain Oates.s heroism. I The totai sum contributed by tho 1 public for tho Captain »coct lund is .-•», i 60, of wnich ii_.til.KJ is earmarked by donors lor .siippitnientii.ji, as may be necessary, tlie Government's provision for tne relatives of captain ocott and his companions. I In somo ejuarters (says tho "Daily j Telegraph) attacks have bc-en mado upon the relict ruiids, and incidentally ! upon tno Government, for the position in which Mrs Edgar Evans, tho widow of tho iKstty-otncer who lost his life in the Expedition, finds herself, and it has been alleged tiiatsho has been left in financial distress,' with ail these public contributions accumulating. But i since February 9th, wuen the uews of J tho disaster reached tiiis country, Mrs Evans has received £52 from tho Admiralty as,accrued balance of her husband's pay and £55 in temporary relief from tho Mansion House and "Daily Telegraph" Funds. Sho is now receiving an Admiralty pension for herself and threo children of 13s 6d per week. An oifer by the London Orphan Asylum to board and educate one of I tho children has, so far, been declined. Mrs Evans and her children will, of course, participate in the distribution of the funds. Commander Evans is expected to visit Cardiff this week, and ho will convey to Mrs Edgar Evans tlie diary and effects of her lato husband. Hundreds of suggestions as to tho application of tho fund havo been sent to the Lord Mayor. Some are useful; others are grotesque in character. I Among the former may be mentioned I tho endowment of orphanages for

sailors, provision for further Antarctic research, erection of a church at Devonport (Captain Scott's birthplace), a cottage homo for non-commissioned officers ~(as a memorial to Cantain Oates), and the purchase of tho Terra Nova. Included in tho grotesque category may he mentioned an Eiffel Tower on Parliament Hill, helping the victims of the Charing Cross Bank, raising an Aerial Fleet, a sanctuary for outcasts, housing old age- pensioners, and tho restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral. Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood mnkes four suggestions—pensions on Aelmiraltv basis, a tablet in St. Paul's Cathedral, mailing good tho Expedition expenses, and the application of the surplus to mercantile marine chadties. : i ..l_j