A GIFT PORTRAIT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 245, 29 July 1936, Page 5

A GIFT PORTRAIT.

TRIBUTE TO SIR JAMES ALLEN.

NATIONAL ART GALLERY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 28. At a large gathering of Parliamentarians and representative citizens in the social room at Parliament Buildings to-day, a portrait of the Hon. Sir James Allen, M.L.C., was formally handed over to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Art Gallery, by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, on behalf of the subscribers. In making the presentation of the portrait, Mr Downie Stewart said that funds were so heavily subscribed to it that it permitted another portrait of Sir James Allen being presented to the city of Dunedin. This was a remarkable demonstration of the high opinion in which the veteran statesman was regarded by his fellow citizens.

The Hon. AV. Perry, M.L.C., representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the AVellington branch of the Navy League, said that Sir James Allen’s talents were tested in the crucible of war, and emerged from that test with the highest possible marks. In accepting the portrait, the Prime Minister said that the man himself justified everything that had, been said about him. AVhatever he undertook, he did with his whole heart and soul. The man who was capable of rising to that height in the service of his fellow countrymen and putting his whole heart and soul into a job had very little to be sorry for. He might make mistakes; Mr Savage supposed that Sir James had made some, but he made other things, too—he made friends. A Lasting influence. “The interest that the donors of this very fine painting have taken in the man himself, and their desire to present it to the National Art Gallery,” said Mr Savage, “is an indication of the great heights to which our good friend lias reached. It was the work that a man was capable of doing for hjs fellow citizens that made the mark which lived for ever. Though Sir James may not admit it, he influenced the minds and destiny of the people: of New Zealand in a way that even he, perhaps, has not appreciated up to now, and it will live for generations to come,” said Mr Savage. Dir Savage; referred to the presence of Dir G. A. Troup, and paid a tribute to his efforts for the art gallery. Had it not been for his work and the work of many good friends, they would probably have had no place in which to hang the picture, and Dir Savage could not let the occasion pass without expressing his appreciation to them. Dir Troup, he said, happened to be one of the big men in laying the foundation of the art gallery in which the picture was destined to hang. “AYe are indebted to those who subscribed to this very fine painting,” added Dir Savage, “but we are also indebted to those who have provided the place in which it is to hang.”