Memorial Fund Well Supported by Public

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 5

Memorial Fund Well Supported by Public

ACTING-PRIME MINISTER EXPRESSES GRATITUDE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. A provisional total of £150,00U in donations to the King George \ National Memorial Fund lor the establishment of permanent childjjen’s health camps in New Zealand was announced by tne Actiug-T’rime Minister (Hon. P. .Eraser) to-night. This sum includes the original contribution from .the Government of £2/,000, plus its pound for pound subsidy alter the fund hau reached £50,000. This means that the public, apart from the Government, nave subscribed £70,000. Mr. Fraser said there were amounts still outstanding, but the tentative total indicated tne magnificent response of the people of New Zealand. The Minister said the public subscriptions exceeded the moat optimistic expectations, and he was particularly impressed with the magnificent manner in which the appeal had been supported by individual citizens. "Every national organisation, public or private, every local authority aqd every local institution, has enthusiastically supported the fund," said Mr. Fraser, * ‘ and I wish to offer the pincerest thanks of the Government for the wonderful respouse that has been forthcoming. Particularly do I wish to thank those local bodies which, on top of mcai uppeuis, have risen to the occasion in Aiis national effort. So widespread has boen the response of individual citizens, either in donations or subscriptions to street appeals, that I do not think it an exaggeration to say that every home in the Dominion has played its part in swelling the fund. That fact alone show* the national character of the fund.

"When the final result is knowV, 1 am confident that tho people of New Zealand will have worthily shown jtheir appreciation of the life of a great King and their deep and abiding humanitarian instincts. The wonderful response will mean health and happiness for thousands of children in every generation to come."