IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 27

IMPERIAL INSTITUTE.

MOTION IN THE COMMONS CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD MAINTENANCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 1. Yesterday, in House of Commons. Mr Ormsby-Gore moved “ That it is expedient., for the purposes of any act of the present session, to amend the law with respect to the management of the Imperial Institute, to authorise the payment, out of moneys provided by Parliament: (1) In each year during the five years after the commencement of the Act. of a sum of nine thousand pounds towards the expenses of tho Imperial Institute and thereafter of such sum. if any, towards the maintenance of exhibition galleries as Parliament may determine.” He said the resolution was necessary in connection with the financial clause of the Imperial Institute Bill now before a Select Committee The institute had an endowment fund bringing in about £6OOO a year. Since the Imperial Economic Conference discussed the question of maintenance they had received an extremely generous donation of £6OOO from Lord Cowdray, and the rest had to be made up by this country, the dominions. and the colonies. This resolution was to give effect to the recommendations of the conference in regard to tjie Mother Country's share. The dominions subscribed £BOOO a year, and the Crown colonies and protectorates another £BOOO a yeay. Mr Percy Harris opposed the grant on the ground that the work which the Imperial Institute was supposed to do was being better done in various part.? of the Empire. If we had the money to spare, surely it would be better to spend it in making this great building tho centre of Imperial education. He moved to reduce the proposed annual expenditure of £9OOO to Sir W. Sugden (Hartlepools) said the last speaker evidently belonged to the Little England school. If they, as a great Imperial business and trading community were to progress on the right lines, they must utilise to an even greater degree the Imperial Institute and what it contained. He hoped the committee would not Eupport the amendment. Mr Snell (Soc., Woodwich East) thought they must have some clearing house in relation to various parts of the Empire. If they were getting efficiency, he would not complain of the money vote. The amendment was negatived and the resolution ugreed to.