WAR MEMORIAL FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18335, 27 February 1923, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL FUND.

' SUM OF £1.45,000 ¥N HAND. ■\ : '-;V .i;':• \"V ;f '• J? : «.v<* v'< •• ••' ; PERSONAL APPEAL RESUMED OBJECTIVE OF COMMITTEE. I' The fund for the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which is ' to be . built in the near future on Observatory Hill in the Domain, has reached the substantial sum of £145,000. This amount includes the contributions on deposit and interest thereon at the annual rate of 44 per cent. The investment now yields a considerable income, the principal being . £110,000. Altogether the subscriptions total £137,000, and the outstanding donation* are assured by definite pledges to pay the balances, which, in many cases, represent "repeat contributions," within a specified time. These payments to lie fun come in steadily. • It was explained? yesterday by, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Qunson, as chairman of 'the Citizens' Committee, that in view of the gratifying success of the persona* canvass to date, it had been decided to resume the system of collection, and continue it for several months. No collections were made durin~ the midsummer holidays, when so many different calls are made upon the purses of citizens. Then it Was recognised also that the voluntary canvassers had earned a rest from their comprehensive and very thorough task. Now that the communitj is again in the midst of normal activities, and in much brighter circumstances as regards economic conditions, it has been resolved to maintain the personal canvass of representative citizens for several more months. . The objective of the Citizens* Committee is -to augment the fund by such means to the extent of an additional £15,000 or £20 000. When that has been accom plished the public appeal for "the requisite balance of the fund will be made. The date has not yet been definitely fixed, but it is expected that• the appeal will be made early in the spring, say in August. A decision will be made soon in order to avoid clashing with other prospective appeals. It is confidently anticipated that by the extension of 'the personal canvass the present total of the fund will at least be increased to £160,000. Given that , sum the balance of the necessary £200.000 should be well within the , capacity of a prosperous community like Greater Auckand. The winning design of the projected Memorial Museum, as prepared by Auckland architect for the open competition, which-- attracted designs from many different countries, has gained marked approval from numerous experts. The Mayor has received a letter from the Director of Education, Mr. •R. Atkinson, under the London Architectural Association, who expresses pleasure at the success of old students, of the association's school, and congratulates Messrs. Draffin - ana Grierson upon . their fine design. Mr. Atkinson adds that, generally speaking, New Zealand students make the best use of their time at the school, and are' by far the best of the oversea students.