AUCKLAND PRAISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 7

AUCKLAND PRAISED.

Empire's Best-Arranged Art

Galleries.

PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS,

LONDON, September 2G.

Australia might well imitate the example of Ottawa, which has the most efficient art gallery in the Dominions, declares Mr. S. F. Markham, secretary of the Museums Association and private secretary to the Prime Minister, in an article in "The Times" dealing with the Carnegie Survey of the Empire's museums and art galleries. The survey, he says, has progressed sufficiently to enable a history and" comparison of the cultural achievements of various parts of the Empire, which spend £17,000,000 a year in this direction. Britain leads in expenditure with 7M a head. New Zealand follows with 3M. The remaining Dominions epend considerably less. New Zealand's achievement is due not to the Government, which contributes less than that of other Dominions, but to the public spirit of citizens, who refuse to accept eecondrato galleries. Auckland has the best arranged and most educationally useful displays. Ottawa has the most efficient art gallery. It combines richness and an effective educational programme, bringing art to the backwoods. Melbourne and Sydney might imitate Ottawa's efforts. Newcastle, despite the size of the population, lacks a worthy museum. There ought to be greater Empire cultural co-operation. Britain is eager to exhibits works of contemporary Dominion artiste. Scores of pictures lying in vaults in national galleries in London should be lent to Australia and New Zealand. The British Museums' Association does whatever is possible to compensate for lack of an Empire body. The hope is expressed that at least the larger Dominions will create a cultural union. The Carnegie Corporation is spending £8000 to develop such co-operation with Canada, and may make similar grants to other Dominions.