BREAD AS WELL AS STONE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 7

BREAD AS WELL AS STONE.

MR BARNETT'S GIFTS. CHEQUE OF 100 GUINEAS FOR RELIEF FUND. A gift of 100 guineas to the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund was made yesterday by Mr M. F. Barnett, the - donor of the Cook statue, at the unveiling of the statue. He said there had been some criticism of his gift of a statue and of its unveiling at a time when there was so much distress in the country. Thereupon he handed the cheque to the Mayor (Mr D. G. £ullivan, M.P.), who expressed his, thanks. "It is a little unfortunate that tho unveiling should take plaeo at a time when there is so much distress in the country," said Mr Barnett. "T know there are some people who think it would have been better had I given them hot rolls instead of a rock; but I should like them to remember that it was three years ago when I made the gift, when times were not nearly so bad as thev are now. In any case, eighty per cent, of the statue was hard work, all done in Christehurch, so you will see there was a good deal of bread 1 and butter in it, after all. The New Gift. "However, to compensate the needy in some degree for tho portion that is rock, I will hand to" the Mayor a cheque for one hundred guineas for his fund. ■ "AH I have to say now is that I love New Zealand, and, like many others, whenever I visit other parts of the world, my greatest enjoyment is when I land back here. New Zealand, I think, in spite of its present hardships, is the snuggest corner of the earth to-day. It is a wonderful cointry, with a most lovable people." Mr Sullivan asked that a vote -»f thanks to Mr Barnett for his gift should be given by acclamation, and this was done.