FESTIVAL CHIEF’S EMPHATIC DENIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 94, 12 July 1927, Page 15

FESTIVAL CHIEF’S EMPHATIC DENIAL

NO UNAUTHORISED NAMES MR. ALBERT GOLDIE’S OFFER COMMITTEE IS SATISFIED A N emphatic denial to any suggestion that the New Zealand National Festival committee was using the names of Auckland citizens without permission was given to-day by the general director, Mr. Albert Goldie. The president of the committee. Mr. R. B. Lusk, also declared that he was quite satisfied that Mr. Goldie should receive a third of the total receipts. Commenting upon the origin of the committee, Mr. Goldie said it had been launched at a public meeting in the presence of the Mayor, Mr. Baildon, on June 7. The meeting decided that a general committee should take charge of arrangements. “A large committee, including the names of many well-known Aucklanders, was formed,” said Mr. Goldie, “most of whom were present and at once accepted election.” Several of those who were not present were subsequently asked to act. Those who were unable to act had their names removed from the list. In two or three instances the committee did not receive written acceptances. These members had received notices of committee meetings, but had not declined to act. “There has certainly been no use of unauthorised names,” he said. ORGANISER ACCEPTS RISK At the special request of the organiser, explained Mr. Goldie, a finance committee was formed to consider the financial aspect of the scheme. This committee reported to the general committee on June 15. It was decided to accept Mr. Goldie’s offer as organiser on a percentage basis, thus absolving the committee and institutions which are to benefit from all risk and responsibility. After investigating the estimates of expenditure, the finance committee estimated that the different causes would benefit from between 40 and 50 per cent, of the gross receipts from all sources. As to the suggested distribution of the proceeds, Mr. Goldie said that a deputation had been arranged to wait on the Mayor, but owing to Mr. Baildon’s illness action was held up. The Mayor, it was stated, was to be asked to “suggest the best means as to deciding the causes to benefit.”

“As we were unable to meet the Mayor, there was no public statement to make,” said Mr. Goldie. He also denied that it was ever suggested by the committee that the festival would take the place of ordinary street day collections. “We never even contemplated it,” he said. Mr. Goldie also said that he had never caused any of the appeals with which he had been associated a penny of loss. Neither had he ever received any remuneration which was not reasonable for the work he had put in. There had been times when loss had resulted, he said, on account of rain. “And then I have borne the loss myself,” commented Mr. Goldie, “as would be the case in this instance. The risk is taken by me. and not by the committee.” The president of the committee, Mr. Lusk, was equally emphatic that names had not been used without authority.

He declared that members of the committee were quite satisfied with Mr. Goldie’s offer, considering that all the risk was to be taken by him. “I certainly did think it was a good deal at first,” Mr. Lusk admitted, “but on going into the question very thor-oughly—-other members of the committee did likewise —I am of the opinion that it is not too ch. Mr. Goldie takes all the risk. That fact must not be forgotten.” TERMS OF APPOINTMENT It may be pointed out that the following was a recommendation from the executive committee to the general committee on June 23: “The executive committee recommends the approval of an offer by Mr. Goldie, who undertakes the whole of the work of organisation without charge of salary or personal expenses to the Festival Fund and who will also provide office accommodation, office staff and all other office expenses and furthermore, undertakes to organise a large corps of workers to make all the necessary mate.ial for the pageants, etc., thereby relieving the funds of the major portion of the expenses of the pageants. “Mr. Goldie guarantees that these pageants will be highly spectacular. Eor his services and in consideration of the payment of the expenses above-stated, and for relieving the committee and the institutions which are to benefit from all risk and responsibility, we recommend that Mr. Goldie receive one-third of the total receipts. The remaining two-thirds will be divided among deserving causes, less certain expenses which the executive committee have gone into and consider reasonable, such as advertising, rent and lighting, special material, special expert services, etc. “It is estimated that by this arrangement the causes will be benefited to the extent of between 40 and 50 per cent, of the gross receipts from all sources. Sporting associations which participate in the Festival are also to receive agreed percentages from the sporting events held by them, the amounts of which are yet to be arranged.” When this recommendation was rechairman, Mr. Lusk, had not been appended to it. ferred to Mr. Goldie to-day ho said that it had been adopted and confirmed. Through an oversight of his own, however, the signature of the