ART IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 7

ART IN NEW ZEALAND

SOCIETIES' CONFERENCE

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

"A conference of delegates from art societies in New Zealand was opened by His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) at the Art Gallery, Whitmore street, yesterday. The following delegates were present:—Dr. E. B. Gunson, M.D., F.E.C.A., and Mr. W. J. A. Thomson, F.B.A.N.Z. (Auckland), Messrs. E. Wallwork, A.X.C.A., and A. P. Nicoll (Canterbury), Mr. Koland Hopkins, A.B.C.Ai (Napier), Messrs. J. H. Yon Haast and C. Hay Campbell, K.D.S. (Wanganui), Messrs. W. M. Page, F.N.Z.1.A., and S. W. Fearn, KN.Z.I.A. (New Zealand Institute of Architects), and Messrs. A. D. Carbery, F.E.C.S., and W. S. Wauchop,, M.A. (Wellington). In opening the conference, nis Excellency stressed the desirability of introducing' art into the homes of the workers, and suggested that a collection of Medici prints of old and modern masterpieces should be procured ijpr each of the four main centres for exhibition in working centres,, a suggestion which was afterwards approved by tho conference.

Dr. Gunson was unanimously elected chairman and' Mr. Thomson hon. secre-tary-of the conference. Before the main business wag proceeded with, feeling - reference- was inado to the death of Mrs. John Hannah and the loss thereby sustained by art in Now Zealand. A motion of -sympathy with her relatives was passed. Regret was expressed at the absence through illness of Mr. H. M. Gore, and tho hope was expressed that ho would soon be restored to carry on his work in the interests of art in the Dominion.

It was unanimously resolved that an association of New Zealand art societies bo formed, subject to the approval of tho kindred bodies concerned.

" Several matters of moment to artists were discussed at length, and the following resolutions were carried:— (1) That a National Art Scholarship should be founded with a capital fund of £10,000, to be awarded every three years, in the first and fourth years to art students and in the sixth to an architectural student; (2) that a National Society of New Zealand artists be formed, not to exceed twelve in number, on the lines of the Eoyal Academies of Great Britain (the scheme was fully explained by Mr. Carbery); (3) that a rota of exhibitions for the various art societies throughout New .Zealand be arranged to prevent clashing and overlapping (a rough plan was drawn up, but final arrangements were left in the hands of the chairman and secretary); that an endeavour be made to send representative New Zealand works to London for exhibition at the autumn exhibition of the Eoyal British Colonial Society of Artists; (5) that the work of architects should receive fuller recognition at the exhibitions of the various art'societies.

Various matters dealing with the economy of the societies were discussed at length. Appreciation was expressed of the work done by the publication "Art in New Zealand."

The proceedings closed with votes of thanks to the chairman and secretary, and to Dr. A. P. Carbery, who entertained the delegates at luncheon. In moving these, Mr. W. M. Page said that a great advance had been made by the holding of the conference, as it was a step towards closer relations in the art world. The various societies would be asked'to approve of the work of the conference, and it was hoped that final arrangements would be made by the end of November for the establishment of the association. . .