THE ARTS BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18121, 20 June 1922, Page 6

THE ARTS BUILDING.

FINANCING THE SCHEME.

PKIVATE DONATIONS NEEDED

CAMPAIGN BY STUDENTS.

The financing of tha Auckland University College building scheme was considered by the College Council in committee yesterday.

On resuming the chairman, the Hon. G. Fowlds, stated that a$ a result of a conference in Auckland recently the Min* ister for Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, had promised a grant of £100,000 for the building, plus architects' fees. Anything required above this amount would be a responsibility for the council. With the cost of electric light, in addition to the building contract, and possibly other expenditure the council snight have to pro* vide about £10,000 additional to tho £100,000. If it was decided to instal a heating plant tho total coßt of these and other extras would be £32,000. Of this sum, on a subsidy basis, the council would have to raise £16,000 to make a complete payment on the arts building and the club houso for the students. There was in hand £500 received by the council from Mrs. W. S, Wibson when it acquired the residence in Princes Street. Alternatives Not Favoured. The students had promised £1000, and had decided definitely to go on working fo» threo years, continued the chairman. They were confident they would raise at least £600 a year, bringing their contribution up to £3000. Thus at least £12,500 would have to be raised by subscription to enable the scheme to be completed. If the worst came to the worst, the council had between £6000 and £10,000 accumulated revenue, which could be used in paying for any items for which* the council would be responsible. In addition, it had power to mortgage its reserves to the extent of £10,000, subject to the consent of the Minister. Mr. Fowlds said he would not like to see either tf these two alternatives adopted. The- Fletcher Construction Company had been advised that its tender of £100,275 for the main arts building and £20,300 for the clubhouse had been accepted. The Minister all along had said that no provision had been made in the arts building for tho students' accommodation, and that any money required for this the Government would subsidise at the rate of £ for £. The Question of Equipment. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth askod what it was estimated the equipment would cost. The chairman replied that the equipment included furnishings, pictures,' etc. It was believed the council would bo able to get a few substantial donations. As a matter of fact, he said, one gentleman had already promised £1000, and if they workod on quietly he was convinced other donations would be forthcoming. The time was inopportune for any public appeal, in view of the fact that the Mayor was counting on conducting a public campaign for the war memorial within the next six months. Dr. T. W. Leys: Ido not suppose there is any prospect of the City Council contributing. Mr. Holdsworth : I do not know that there is any reason why it shotfld not. It made a handsome donation toward tho war memorial. The Rev. J. H. Simmonds asked if there was anything to prevent the council going to the Government for all the money required. The Chairman: I would not hesitate to go to the Government, but there is a certain financial stringency with the Government just now. Even if it paid the whole of the money Auckland would still be a long way short of what has been done for other universities in the Dominion.

Mr. Simmonds: I think the Government should find all the money. The Chairman: We have got it np to the limit in the meantime, and we must go on. TKpre is not the slightest donbt we can raTso a substantial sum of money which will include something for furnishings. A letter from the Minister confirmed the statement made by the chairman thnt for any money required in excess of £100,000 the council must be responsible. He added: "Of course any statutory rights you may have to a subsidy upon voluntary contributions toward the erection of the building will be honoured up to nn aggregate amount to be agreed upon between the department and the council -" The council then adjourned to meet at 11 a.m. to-c7ay for signing the contract for the erection of the building.