SHORTAGE OF FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 198, 23 May 1928, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF FINANCE

AUCKLAND’S WAR MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

AN UNPLEASANT PROSPECT

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, May 22.

Unless the financial position of the Auckland Institute and Museum is improved immediately, Auckland will be in the position of having a War Memorial Museum, with its doors closed to the public. The building in the Domain is expected to be out of the contractors’ hands in about two months, but the institute has not the means which will enable it to arrange exhibits in the new home.

“We have been up* against a fearful position in regard to finance,” the president of the Institute (Mr. H. E. Vaile) told members at the annual meeting. “With our own subscriptions and a grant of £2OOO from the City Council, we have managed to get over the past year. This year we have asked the City Council for £4OOO, and they have stood aghast, but we must have the money, or otherwise we. shall not be able to open the doors of the new building. We have asked the suburbs to assist, and if we do not get money, then the building will have to remain closed. That will be a disgrace to Auc-land.”

Mr. Vaile said the Institute must have a total of £6OOO this year, and thereafter £BOOO a year. He mentioned that the Wellington Museum -was maintained by the Government at the expense of the general taxpayers. It cost £7OOO to maintain that museum last year, the people of Auckland contributing a third of the amount through taxes.