AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1424, 26 April 1912, Page 4

AUCKLAND MUSEUM.

PKEMIEE ASKED FOE A GRANT,

(By Telegraph-Press Association.)

. , ~. Auckland, April 25. A deputation representing the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum, introduced by. Mr. P. H. Bradnoy, M.P., waited upon the Prime Minister this morning with a request that ho would use his iufluenco to obtain Government assistance for tho museum.

Professor Segar, in placing the request before the Premier, pointed out that thero were several features worthy of special patronage in connection with the Auckland Museum, especially respecting tho Maori section. The income of the museum proper was only about .£9OO a year, as against about £1700 which the 'Wellington Museum drew for maintenance purposes. The Auckland income was, in short, so small that it was practically impossible to provide for future building or extension of any sort whatever, and what progress was mado was duo to flic generosity of the public, which had altogether contributed .£18,918, as against tho ,£3860 granted by tile Government. What they wanted now was a grant of about .£12,006, with a view to providing tho ncccsjivry increased accommodation to bring tho museum nearer the requirements of a growing city like Auckland.

The Prime Minister, in reply, assured tho deputation that he had always taken n great interest in collections of such historical interest as were possessed by our museums. As to Auckland Museum, ho would certainly ask his colleagues to place iCCSI an tho Estimates Io meet a ,£ for £ graut on the sum recently raised by tho public of Auckland. Touching tho iC12,000, ho pointed out that in Otogo, where recent additions had been mado to. tho museum, the Government contributed on the £ for £ basis, And if the public of Auckland could fdrm n scheme to raise more money for. extensions, he would be glad to try and obtain a £ for £ subsidy up to a reasonable limit. He thouglit the public would be willing to make a special.effort for a permanent structure, They in the South admired Ihe public spirit of the men who had li-ft «n uiut-h to Auckland. It stood aparl from anything that had been dnno anywhere else ill New Zealand, and ho thought they would find this public spin'tedncss not by any means exhausted.

Tho deputation 'thanked the Premier for u ottor o! asiisliuiot.