The Imperial Institute.

Manawatu Herald, 19 September 1893, Page 2

The Imperial Institute.

The Agent General appears deserving of thanks for having forced the Government to do something after the magnificent promises they originally made. It is on record that the Governing Body of the Imperial Institute were led to believe by Sir Robert Stout in 1887 that a graut of £10,000, extending over ten years, would have been voted. It was not, and up to date the colony has given nothing 112 cash. By the frequent application of the Agent-General the Government tardily gave the exhibits formerly in the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. He, when informed that Sir Walter Buller and himself had been appointed Governors, wrote staling they would be placed in an in vid nons position if they were not furnished with the necessary means to carry out their functions. The Premier after a delay wrote that it was intended to place £250 on next year's estimates for expenses, and in the meanwhile he might spend £100. What might be termed princely liberality under the circumstances The Premier got so pleased at his open -handedness that he, sis months afterwards, actually agreed to pay freight and landing charges on all exhibits ! By cablegram the AgentGencial asked for £400 to enable him lo make a creditable display, and this was granted on the condition of there being no further grant oi'anv kiud.

Our expense as a colony stands at £500, given very grudgingly, yet we paid a tenth of that sum for three lectures by a man whose abilities or prudence the colony possessed no knowledge !

The private donations in Great Britain towards the Institute amounted to £23G,8G8, and in India to £101,030. Canada gave officially £20,000, and Victoria, Straits Settlements, and New South Wales over £5000 each. Ascension not to be out of the running contributed as a private donation one pound ten shillings.

Tha actions of our Liberal Governments do not make satisfactory reading on this question.