No Subsidy for War Memorial

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 May 1927, Page 11

No Subsidy for War Memorial

NATIONAL SCHEME INFORMATION SOUGHT (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The re-establishment of the vote of £ 100,000 on the estimates for a national war memorial was asked for to-day by a deputation of members of the citizens’ committee which was appointed to amalgamate the various memorial proposals here. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart said that there could not have been a more unfortunate period at -which, to request that the vote be re-instated. The deputation asked for a definite assurance from the Government that moneys promised as a subsidy upon public subscriptions up to £IOO,OOO, on a £ for £ basis, would be made available for expenditure.

The Prime Minister and Mr. Stewart declined to agree to piecemeal contributions, and indicated that it was necessary to know what the city council proposed to do in regard to a suitable approach to Mount Cook before they could give a definite reply to the request that this site should be handed over for the erection of the memorial buildings. Money was not so plentiful at present that any promise involving a large sum could be made off hand without knowing that the promise could be fulfilled. Mr. Coates would not discuss the question of a national war memorial from the point of view of providing £IOO,OOO. If the whole question was to be left to the Government he would definitely say that he was not prepared to go on with the whole scheme yet.