THE RADIUM FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19204, 21 June 1924, Page 10

THE RADIUM FUND.

QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. SURPRISE FOR HOSPITAL BOARD (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 20. After raising over £IO.OOO for the radium fund in the expectation that the remaining half of the cost would be iret by n Government subsidy, tho Hospital Board now finds that the.ro is no legal authority tor ?uch payment unless the Minister is satisfied that the fund is insufficient for the purpose. Sir Maui Pomare has written to the Hoard setting out the law, and pointing out that the promoters of the fund were made acquainted with the position by the lion. Sir Francis Bell. “It is impossible to admit tho proposition,” he says, “that a number oV subscribers may create a fund of any amount they choose and then for u responsible body to demand from the State provision of an equivalent sum. Moreover, the Act does not define grants Ms £1 tor £l. but only such an amount as the Minister chooses not exceeding that ratio.” The Minister concludes that it must first bo proved that (he £IO,GOJ is insufficient; and, oven then, it must he shown that the deficiency is £IO,OOO, and not a lesser sum.