£51,700-FOR NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 10

£51,700-FOR NEW ZEALAND

WELLINGTON TO RECEIVE £9650

ALLOCATION IN HANDS OF MAYORS

An» announcement that he would give £51,700 to New Zealand charities was made by Lord Nuffield, the well-known English motorcar manufacturer and philanthropist, who arrived by the Awatea today from Sydney. Lord Nuffield is making his fourth visit to New Zealand, and is on a holiday, which he intends to spend in the South Island. New Zealand has now received benefactions totalling £110.000 from Lord Nuffield, who, in the last ten years, has given away approximately £8,500,000.

"To give money to causes which are praiseworthy and needy is not of itself a difficult matter, especially in one's own land," said Lord Nuffield, in an interview. "In other countries, however, the problem becomes less simple, and I have found that a great deal of thought is necessary in order to arrive at an equitable basis of distribution.

"It may have been reported in New Zealand that in making my recent gifts in Australia—£lo3,soo in all—the amount was divided amongst each State, including Tasmania, in the proportion of each State's total population. In New Zealand it is my dosire to pursue approximately the same course, and it will be apparent that

the first problem that confronts me is to fix the total sum which I shall bestow on the Dominion, which differs from Australia in so many ways. The majority of these differences are so obvious that I scarcely need dwell on them, but I think I should mention the necessity for my bearing in mind that New Zealand, in spite of being potentially less rich than Australia, is, in proportion to its population and size, a very good customer of the Old Country. "After much deliberation I have decided to {five £51,700 to charitable causes in the Dominion. SYSTEM OF ALLOCATION. "My second problem is that of finding a system of allocation which will most generally be regarded as a just one. Your largest cities and boroughs are 14 In number, and, after. consultation with Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, I propose to divide £50,000 amongst them in proportion to their population, sub-

1 urb's included, and the remaining '£1700 between the districts of Wairarapa and the West Coast of the South Island, each of those districts to receive £850. "Manifestly my detailed knowledge of the condition of these particular districts is insufficient for me to attempt any division between particular institutions, and it therefore appears that the best course I can adopt is to seek the co-operation of the Mayors with the request that they will select j causes that my gift might best help. : SUFFERERS IN MIND. "1 should make it plain that the amounts shown in the following list will be given to the Mayors concerned for distribution at their sole and absolute discretion, but for their guidance I would express the opinion that crippled children, hospital and maternity work, and those who suffer from such afflictions as blindness, deafness, and dumbness should be uppermost in their minds."

The list is as follows:— £ Auckland 13,650 Wellington / 9,650 ■Christchurch 8,550 Dunedin ■ 5,300 Wanganui 1,650 Invercargill 1^650 Palmerston North .... 1,550 Hamilton 1,300 Timaru 1,200 Napier 1,200 New Plymouth • 1,300 Hastings 1,150 Gisborne 1,050 Nelson 900 Total £50,000

The sum of £850 is given to the •Mayor of Masterton for distribution among thp districts of Wairarapa, inI eluding the boroughs of Mastertorv Featherston. Greytown, Pahiatua, and Eketahuna. and £850 is given to tn» Mayor of Greymouth for distribution on the West Coast of the South Island, including Hokitika and Westaort. WORD OF WAIVING. "I would like to give a word of warning to writers of letters," he said. "I have received telegrams asking for money, and stating that a letter was following. As I will not be in any one place more than a day, it is useless for people to write to me, for the reason that it will be impossible for their letters to be answered."

Lord Nuffield is to ieave Wellington tomorrow for the South Island, and he returns to Wellington, sailing from here on March 11 by the .Rangitiki for England. This is his fourth visit to New Zealand in the last nine years, and his third visit in three consecutive years. He proposes to spend the whole of his time in New Zealand in the South Island, which he did not have an opportunity of visiting on any of his previous visits.

Lord Nuffield is accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. W. Hobbs) and Mr. G. A.-Lloyd (his Australian arid New Zealand representative).