WAR MEMORIAL FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 6

WAR MEMORIAL FUND.

TOTAL AMOUNT NOW £150,000.

ERECTION OF THE MUSEUM.

PRELIMINARIES TO START SOON.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum fund campaign is progressing steadily. The -Mayor, Mr. •J. H. Gunson, statea yesterday that the policy which had been observed from the outset was being preserved, and that the personal canvass of citizens was producing steady results. The next meeting of the committee would be held at the end of this month.

It 'had been tentatively resolved, saio the Mayor, that the public appeal.for further funds should be made between August and September, and there was no doubt whatever that it would be con eluded at, that time. The committee would" meet the architects shortly with the view of preliminary planning be- • put in hand, and. the time was fast approaching when definite instructions would be given in connection with the erection of the building. It was estimated that the planning and calling of tenders would take from six to nine months from the date of commencement

he winning design for the new museum would be preserved in its features and. main plan, the only ro-planning being in regard to certain 'interior arrangements, and definite requirements for the wai memorial section of the museum. " The fund to-day stands at £150,000," said Mr. Gunson. " This will be slightly increased on the completion of the personal canvass, before the public appeal is made. A feature of the movement recently has been the receipt of second donations from a number of the original subscribers. In some cases these havo been very' substantial. This exemplifies, in a marked degree, the fine public spirit which exists in Auckland. The fund has never lagged from the outset." The Mayor added that from the museum standpoint considerable assistance was expected from the provincial centres. There was no doubt the Auckland Museum was at least a provincial institution, particularly with, its rich Maori section.