MEMORIAL APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 10

MEMORIAL APPEAL

CITY'S RESPONSE

OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED

" Both the Wellington and the national | objectives aimed at for the King George V Memorial Fund will have been achieved when the first accounting is announced later in the week, stated the Acting ,Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), who complimented] the people of New Zealand on the. generous way in u'hich they have supported the project to establish permanent children's health camps, when opening the flag-planting ceremony in the city this morning. Although the response to the appeal inaugurated by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Jr.on. M. J Savage) had been magnificent, those who still wished to contribute should not hesitate to do,so, he added, because every £ and every shilling would be subsidised £ for £ by the Government. Although practically everyone in Wellington has already contributed towards the Memorial Fund, the response to the Flag Day appeal this morning was good, thousands wear-ing lapel badges from flags by the time the planting ceremony commenced at 11 o'clock. In spite of the cold wind that was blowing the flag sellers were at their stations early in the morning and their'enthusiasm, as well as the great respect that all New Zealanders have for the memory 6f the late King, had the desired result in tha. majority of cases. . FLAG-PLANTING CEREMONY. Before the official party arrived at the grass plot at the corner of Lambton Quay and Molesworth Street, several hundred citizens had gathered around the roped-ofi area and they remained there in the cold wind, a. certain amount of entertainment being' provided by broadcast music through the loud-speakers fitted by the operators from 2YA, who had prepared for the broadcast of the ceremony, i By .the time the Acting Prime Minister, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), and other prominent citizens arrived the crowd numbered approximately five hundred, and this number was added to at a rapid pace throughout the ceremony. At 11 o'clock the Mayor and Mr. Fraser mounted the platform, and Mr. Hislop bpencd prpceedings with a brief address. ' "Today marks the date of the birthday of. our late King, his Majesty George V," Mr. Hislop said, "and it also marks the final day of the active campaign for funds to provide a memorial to the late King. That memorial is to take the form of children's health camps throughout the country. The movement was started by the Prime Minister before he. left- for England, and it has for many weeks past been put before the people of New Zealand. The response has been worthy' of the. people of New Zealand. I can speak more of the response by the citizens of Wellington and, as their representative, I can say that I take great pride in the fact that their contributions, per ■ head pt population, are unsurpassed '.n New Zealand. After today we will be able to let you have complete details of the contributions made, but the indications are that Wellington has once more led the way." .The ceremony they had to1 perform was a brief .one, Mr. Hislop added. They hairnet for the purpose of purchasing flags to plant as a memorial to the late King and to raise funds for" his memorial.-' GOVERNMENT'S THANKS. The thanks of the Government for •the response made by the people of. New Zealand were-expressed by Mr. Fraser. The Memorial, Fund was a most worthy object, Mr. Fraser said, and he wanted to thank everyone for the great response had been made. In particular he wanted to thank the -citizens ofWellington for, the splendid way in which they had rallied to the fund, and for their mighty and enthusiastic efforts which were to culminate in the Flag Day appeal. .. "This ceremony is in memory of a great King and to promote the health of the children of New. Zealand," Mr. Fraser said. "It will be my privilege in a few days—probably on Friday— when the first accounting should be ready, to cable to the Prime Minister and inform him that the objective aimed at has been achieved. The amount decided upon for the whole of New Zealand was £100,000. First of all, £25,000 from the Government, and when an amount of £25,000 was raised by voluntary subscriptions and donations, a further £ for £ subsidy was to be given right up to £100,000. That was the limit set, but it looks as if it will be surpassed. The understanding how is that every thousand over £50,000 to any amount will be subsi-, dised £ for £, and that amount is well in sight." Mr. Fraser said that he would probably be able to announce on Friday that the £50,000 had been reached, but those who wished to give more to the fund had no need to hesitate, for every pound and every shilling contributed, whether by today or after today, would carry the Government subsidy. In conclusion, Mr.' Fraser congratulated the Dominion generally on the way the people had subscribed. Everything given was for the benefit of a good cause, and would mean the; health and happiness of the children of the country.

Mr. Fraser and Mr. Hislop then went up the plot where a space for the planting of flags had been marked,out and placed the first and second. flags. They were followed by Mrs. Fraser, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., many prominent citizens, and the hundreds of persons who were waiting. Members of the Legion of Frontiersmen were present to control the stream of people, and before many minutes had passed hundreds of flags had been .planted. The planting is continuing rapidly, and at intervals representatives of the secondary schools in Wellington are placing the flags purchased by college pupils.