NUFFIELD GIFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22670, 6 March 1937, Page 14

NUFFIELD GIFT

AUCKLAND'S £13,650 DISTRIBUTION MADE HELPING CHARITIES MANY CAUSES AIDED "It foil to my privileged responsibility, and within my sole and absolute discretion, to allocate Lord Nuffield's latest contribution to the charitable enterprises of Auckland, and this task, which presented some difficulties in its detailed aspects only, has now been completed," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, last night, in announcing details of the distribution of Auckland's share, £13,650, of the £51,700 donated by Lord Nuffield to charitable causes in the Dominion. "Characteristic of the generous impulses with which the benefactions of Lord Nuffield are inseparably associated, the sum available for distribution was large, permitting a wide field of humanitarian endeavour to be assisted in the allotments," Mr. Davis said. "Lord Nuffield's cheque, together with his covering letter, reached me yesterday, and immediate, and, I may say, continuous attention was given to the compilation of an allocation schedule, as i could see tio point in delaying the distribution once the necessary survey had been completed. To this end, close inquiries were carried out, no eligible organisation was overlooked, and all relevant factors wero weighed before final detenu illations wore made. The Donor's Wishes "The guiding principle with respect to the allocation of the bulk of the grant was the indication of the donor that prior consideration might be given to such causes as crippled, children, hospital and maternity work, and those suffering from such afflictions as blindness, deafness and dumbness. The import of the.se words permitted of no ambiguity, and I am satisfied that the major allotments are in alignment with them and correctly interpret the expressed wishes of Lord Nuffield. "However, with adequate provision made for the paramount considerations, there remained a sum sufficient to provide some assistance to other deserving charities, the activities of which, while perhaps not qualifying for participation in the major distribution which the grant clearly envisaged, have a direct bearing on the amelioration of suffering. I refer to the social service organisations, of which representative units were selected for the allocation of the residue of the grant. Immediate Expenditure "The cheques and accompanying letters were posted this evening to the different beneficiary organisations. To ensure that the widest possible benefit may result from the distribution, the allocations have been made available, for current expenditure for genera) purposes and are not to he capitalised. I need no reassurance that th<* funds will bo applied to the best advantage. With regard to the smaller allotments, my only suggestion is that, in conformity with the spirit of the grant, the application of the money might well be to the relief of distress arising out of sickness. "The inquiries which it was necessary to make in the last two days uncovered to me an impressive record of service in a host of different directions. Apart from the work of the social services, with which 1 am acquainted, 1 found arresting evidence of the work which unobtrusively, yet effectively, is being carried out on behalf of the sick poor, indigent expectant mothers, backward children, and moral uplift. All of these, along with the services given to the relief of distress generally, I wholeheartedly commend to the continuous support of my fellow citizens. ' The City's Appreciation "I welcome this opportunity, furnished by Lord Nuffield's great gift, of placing on record publicly the thanks and appreciation of the city for his generous remembrance of its charitable institutions. Literally, by the stroke of a pen, he has conferred on the deserving sections of the community a blessing which will enrich the pages of Auckland's social history."