The Imperial Institute

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 103, 31 March 1888, Page 2

The Imperial Institute

The Wellington Press recently had a trenchant artiole on the subject of the Imperial Institute and the collections made in New Zealand on behalf of such object. It will be remembered that the Imperial Institute was designed 1 o commemorate the Jubilee Tear of Her Majesty's reign, and subscriptions were invited for the same throughout the Sritish Empire. It would appear from a statement just published by authority, over the signature of Sir Somebody, in England, that the sum collected in this colony for the Imperial Institute amounted to £2853 4s 4d. In noting this sum the writer "gushes," in spread-eagle style, over the patriotism of the colonists, but the effect of the whole thing is marred by the Weilingion Press in the following manner : — " We will begin by asking onr readers carefully to observe that the amount received from New Zealand, £2,853 4s 4d, is stated to be an illus. tration of the sympathy of the inhabitants of the colonies with the welfare of the Imperial Institute. Now, what are the facts ? This sum of £2853 4s 4d includes £2000 subscribed by two brothers, Highland gentlemen of immense wealth, owning large estates in Otago, but totally unknown to the public of the colony. Their subscription was regarded as a sheer piece of eccentricity, and would probably never have been made if they had had any idea of the feeling of the people towards the Institute. That leaves £858 4g 4d, subscribed by a population of 620,000. Of this His Excellency the Governor gave £100, the Speaker of the Legislative Council £100, and four other members of the Legislative Council £300 among them. This leayes £358 4s 4d. Of this the Armed Constabulary, the Gaol War* dors, the Volunteers and Permanent 1 Artillery Force, and the employes of ! the Gorernment Printing Office gave £100; and the Heads of Departments and other official personages gave another £100. The Ministers of the Crown in New Zealand showed their opinion of the Imperial Institute by subscribing £5 among the seven,— and that £5 was given by the Colonial Treasurer, who was bound to give something, having addressed a circular to the local bodies urging them in thrilling terms to apply a share of the ratepayers money to this object — a. proceeding* which turned out to be illegal. The only Member of the House qf Representatives who gave anything was Mr Eraser, the Member for Te Aro, who gave £2, and was defeated at the next election. ' We thus find that leaving out the subscription of L 2.000 by McLean Brothers, which was simply a blunder on the partof two gentlemen whodid not know what to do with their money, and the L7OO Bubscribed — mostain willingly — by i the - official • • pirsonage or squeezed out of the Government employes, the " offerings" of the 620,000 inhabitants of New Zealand amounted LISS 4s 4d s or a faction over one- fourth of a farthing per head. <