RADIUM FUND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 June 1924, Page 5

RADIUM FUND

SUBSIDY QUESTION. MINISTER REPUDIATES LIABILITY. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, June 20. After raising over sL'ro,ouo ror the radium fund in tne expectation that tile remaining naif ot tne cost would oe met oy. vrov v .mnent. suosidv, tne Hospital Board now finds that there is no legal authority for such payment unless cue Minister is satisfied that the fund is insufficient tor that purpose. Sir AI. Pomare has written to the Board setting out tne iaw, and pointing out that tne pronqjjers of the fund were made acquainted with the position by Sir Francis Beil. It is impossible to admit the proposition, he says, that a number of subscribers may create a fund ol' any amount they "choose and then lor ;; responsible body to demand from the State the provision of an equivalent sum. Moreover, the Act does not define grants as £1 for £i, but only such amount as the Alinister chooses, not exceeding that ratio. The Alinister concludes that it must first be proved that the £IO,OOO is insufficient, and even then it must be shown that the deficiency is £IO,OOO, and not a lesser sum.