BURNS’S MAUSOLEUM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 7

BURNS’S MAUSOLEUM

APPEAL FOR FUNDS. MR NIMMO’S COMMENT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jail. 25. “AVith the utmost vigour and the utmost indigation I want to give the lie direct to the news in to-day’s papers,” said Air R. H. Nimmo, who presided at the anniversary supper of the Burns Club, which was attended by many Scots to-night. He was referring to the cable item which stated that the Burns Club had issued a world-wide appeal for funds for the restoration of Burns’s mausoleum at Dumfries. The cable mentioned that only £570 had been received when £2500 was required, and as a result the club officials had to pawn the priceless Kilmarnock edition of the poet’s works. “I think it is a hoax,” Mr Nimmo continued, “published as it is on the eve of tlie anniversary of our immortal hard. In refuting this statement we have referred to several representatives of Scots societies throughout New Zealand, who deny any knowledge of an appeal being issued from Dumfries. Some of the people here to-night have inspected the memorial at Dumfries recently and in their opinion it is impossible that the mausoleum can be m need of rc-eonstruction. Further, tlie £2500 could have been raised in Glasgow alone in 24 hours had an appeal been made.”

A London cable dated January 22, stated that the poor response of only £570 to the Burns Club’s wor’kl-wide appeal for funds for the restoration of Burns’s mausoleum at Dumfries, at a cost of £2500, had compelled the'Dumfries Burns Club to pawn the priceless 1780 Kilmarnock edition of Burns’s works. Club officials said that Scotsmen all over the world should reflect with shame upon their plight.