KING GEORGE V NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND.

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 10, 11 August 1937, Page 6

KING GEORGE V NATIONAL MEMORIAL FUND.

THE PRIME MINISTER THANKS • PEOPLE. Apart from farewell functions, my last public act as Prime Minister before leaving for the Coronation and the Imperial Conference was my appeal to the people of New Zealand on 22nd, March in launching the King George the Fifth National Memorial Fund. Now, on my return, it is my pleasure as 'well as my duty to thrvnk, on behalf of the Government, the people of New Zealand for their magnificent response -to that appeal. In fixing the formal closing* date of the Appeal at 3rd June, .His late Majesty's Birthday, I asked the people to subscribe £50,000 in just over ten weeks. Despite Easter and. the Coronation preparations, half the objective was reached a week Coronation Day. By 22nd May the fund had 1 ' reached a total of £44,000. On 29th May, £54,000 (£4,000 beyoiul our objective) had been subscribed. x The final response in the remaining fh'ie days to the close of 3rd June was truly wonderful, another £20,000 being subscribed. And to-day the public response has reached a total of £86,293 2s Od. It is impossible for me in this statement to acknowledge the indebtedness of the Government or myself personally to all the individuals and organisations to whom I, before my departure, or my colleague, the Hon. Mr Fraser, who actcd for me during niy absence, made a direct personal appeal. I shall take the first possible opportunity; of writing to each, and all of "them. I do, however, desire at this stage to acknowledge with heartfelt gratitude my indebtedness to His Excellency the Govei;nor-G<encral, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, my immediate predecessor, the Lewder of the Opposition, the Hon. Adi'tni I-la:milton, and my own colleagues for their wholehearted support and co-operation, which right from the beginning set' the Appeal on a truly national basis. To His Majesty King George the Sixth for his gracious approval of the fund us an object for a National Appeai in liotu of any Coronation Memorial, our lo'ving gratitude is due. 1' am sure that His Majesty will be proud of the response made by his people of this Dominion, not in t.heir grief of a year ago, but in their calm recollection .to-day of all that his beloved father was and all that, his example meant to the welfare of his people and the peace of the "world.