KIRK APPEAL OPEN

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33693, 16 November 1974, Page 2

KIRK APPEAL OPEN

(N.Z. Preet Aseoeiation) WELLINGTON, November 15. The Norman Kirk memorial appeal fund opened today with a target of $250,000.

The fund, in memory of the former Prime Minister, is intended to help people within New Zealand and the South Pacific who have shown they have the capacity to benefit from further education, study, training and experience.

The appeal will be open until April 30 next year. The trustees consider $250,000 is the minimum needed to ensure that the memorial is established on a sound basis as a continuing fund.

A spokesman for the organisers said today that the terms of reference of the fund had deliberately been made wide-ranging. The greatest possible flexibility was needed to ensure that the fund’s aims did not become outdated, the spokesman said. “We want to be able to help people of any age as particular needs arise. We can’t predict now what the greatest needs will be in 20 years."

The idea of an appeal fund arose from a rush of spontaneous contributions immediately after Mr Kirk’s death on August 31. Several hundred suggestions for a memorial were received by the Minister of Works (Mr Watt) who is chairman of the fund’s trustees, and who was Deputy Prime Minister under Mr Kirk.

“Most of the written suggestions, and those made on a Christchurch talk-back radio show, came out in favour of a continuing memorial that would benefit the peoples of New Zealand and the South Pacific,” the spokesman said. Donations may be handed in at any post office, or sent to P.O. Box 18098, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.