FUNDS ARE WANTED FOR NEW MUSEUM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 8

FUNDS ARE WANTED FOR NEW MUSEUM.

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE POVERTY-STRICKEN.

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, May 22. Unless the financial position of the Auckland Institute and Museum is improved immediately, Auckland will be in the position of having a War Memorial Museum with its doors closed to the public. The building in the Domain is expected to be out of the contractors’ hands in about two months, but the Institute has not the means which will enable it to arrange exhibits in the new home. “We have been up against a fearful position in regard to finance,” the president (Mr 11. E. Vaile) told members at the annual meeting last evening. “With our own subscriptions and a grant of £2OOO from the City Council we have managed to get over the past year. This year we have asked the City Council for £4OOO and they have stood aghast, but we must have the money or otherwise we shall not be able to open the doors of the new building. We have asked the suburbs to assist, and if we do not get the mone.v then the building will have to remain closed. That will be a disgrace to Auckland. “\\ e do not sa( r this in any carping or defiant spirit,” Mr Vaile added. “The position is simply this: We have to get out of 'our present building. We have to set up the exhibits in the new museum and we have not the money to do it. The Institute must have a total of £6OOO this year and thereafter £BOOO a year." He mentioned that the Wellington Museum was maintained by the Government at the expense of the general ratepayers. It cost £7OOO to maintain that museum last year, the people of Auckland contributing a third of the amount through taxes.