GIFT FOR ROYALTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 9

GIFT FOR ROYALTY

Maori Treasure House Costs More Than Was Expected CABINETMAKER’S GRIEVANCE A beautifully worked Maori treasurehouse, standing on a table, was presented to the Duke and Duchess of York as a souvenir of their visit to Auckland. The man who was responsible for much of the work of that gift. Mr. A. R. Moakes, cabinetmaker, states that he has not yet been fully paid for it and that there is still the sum of £SI 6s 2d owing to him. Apparently the gift cost the Auckland City Council much more than was expected. Although the sum of £4OO was allocated toward the Royal present, the City Council's bill for it was nearly£soo.

The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, when approached this morning, stated that a settlement will be made early next week. He and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, are in communication with Mr. Park, the architect. CAUSE OF HOLD-UP “Payment has been held up partly because of the elections and partly because we will have to go through the accounts very thoroughly with Mr. Park,” said Mr. Baildon. The mayor also mentioned that the gift had cost more than was anticipated and he was of opinion that Mr. Moakes’s charge had been rather excessive. Inquiries will be made and if the charges are justified then the amount will be paid. Mr. Baildon added that the Treasure House was a very beautiful piece of work. Mr. Moakes states that he was asked by Mr. J. Park, the architect in charge of the contract, to make the Treasure House and table, and to carry out the work as far as the cabinetmaking was concerned. Mr. Moakes agreed to do it at the rate of £6 a week, on condition that he was not held up by carvers and the payment of wages. TIME LOST He obtained carvers to do the work, but stated that a great deal of time was lost in searching for men and materials, and the work took longer than was at first anticipated. This might also have contributed to the extra cost “There was a tremendous amount of work in the gift,” said Mr. Moakes. “but everyone seemed satisfied with it. The Mayor said that it was a perfect piece of work and Mr. Park made no complaints.

“It has been said that the gift cost too much,” continued Mr. Moakes. “My charge was £l4l 6s 2d, and of this sum I have received £6O from Mr. Park. I worked on it for 926 hours. “I went to the City Council recently to try to arrange some settlement, but was told that it was no concern of the council’s, as I had been employed by Mr. Park. I was told that until Mr. Park had been interviewed and the accounts properly' explained, no payments could be made. The council people said that they would do their best to settle the matter shortly, but it might take a month or more.” COSTLY GIFT Mr. Park saw Mr. Moakes and explained that the gift to the Duke and Duchess had been costly and told him of the subsequent difficulty with the City Council. He (Mr. Park) had not received the full money from the council.

Mr. Moakes has been engaged on several big works, including gifts to the late Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Lord Jellicoe and the Governor-Gen-eral, Sir Charles Fergusson. The Maori Treasure House which was presented to the Duke and Duchess was a replica of the famous one now housed in the Auckland Museum.