Trust Did Not Meet Criteria For Grant

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 18

Trust Did Not Meet Criteria For Grant

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 4. The Maori Theatre Trust’s application to the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council for assistance failed because the trust did not measure up to the basic criteria on which the council’s policy was based, the council’s director, Mr D. Peters, said today.

He was replying to recent criticism of the council by the trust’s chairman. Mr P. Keiha, arising from its refusal to make a grant of £92,000 to assist in the presentation of Bruce Mason’s play “Awatea.” Mr Peters said three criteria had to be met if the council were to make the best use of funds provided for it by the Government Any organisation applying for assistance was required to establish: The importance of the artistic pursuit in which it was engaged. Its administrative and financial stability. Its past record and future plans.

New organisations seeking assistance were required to show evidence of some achievement, a likelihood of survival, and an ability to carry out stated plans, Mr Peters said.

He emphasised that all applications were thoroughly investigated by committees of the council and were related to the criteria laid down in the council’s first report to Parliament. After consideration of the application from the Maori Theatre Trust, certain suggestions were made in the hope that the promoters ’of the trust would consider a more realistic approach to the projects they had in mind.

“The statement that the council grant for 1966 was £250,000 is incorrect,” Mr Peters said, “and to imply that the council had committed all the money and was, therefore, open to the charge of conducting its business improperly is equally incorrect.

“The grant received for 1966 amounted to £230.000, and these funds have been allocated, and in some cases committed, to organisations that have a record of substantial achievement in the field of the arts.” At all stages of discussion with the trust the Maori Purposes Fund Board had been consulted and kept fully informed of decisions by the council, Mr Peters said.