A MUNIFICENT GIFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21145, 1 October 1930, Page 7

A MUNIFICENT GIFT

MILLIONS FOR BRITAIN. 1 AN AMERICAN’S ADMIRATION. . (British Official Wireless.! (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, September 29. (Received Sept. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) In a, letter to The Times, Mr Stanley Baldwin announces that Mr Edward Harkness, an American millionaire, has placed in the hands of trustees a large sum of money which he desires to be spent for the benefit.of Great Britain. The trust deed is covered by the legal word “ charitable,” and its preamble opens with the following phrases:— “ Whereas it is acknowledged by all that Great Britain in war spent her resources freely in the common cause, and in the that have elapsed since pence has sustained honourably and without complaint a burden which' has gravely increased the difficulties of life for her people, and whereas by the bounty of providence America has of late enjoyed an ample measure of prosperity, and the donor himself has been blessed with worldly means, and whereas the donor feels himself bound by many ties of affection to the land from which he draws his descent, and whereas ’it seems to him that it is right for a private American citizen to show his admiration pf what Britain has done,” etc. ' Mr Baldwin, Lord Macmillan, Sir James Irvine (principal of St. Audtew’s University )j Sir Josiah Stamp, and Mr John Buchanan are the trustees, and Mr Thomas Jones (late Deputy Secretary to the. Cabinet) is the secretary of what will he known as the Pilgrim Trust. Mr Harkness lias made many earlier generous gifts to British and AWrican institutions, mainly educational. Although no figures have been mentioned it is understood that the sum involved is several millions, \