TASTES IN ART.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 218, 15 September 1939, Page 13

TASTES IN ART.

IN AUCKLAND CITY.

peculiarities alleged

ALBERT PARK STATUES ?

(By Telegraph.—Pnrllnmpntnry Reporter.) WELLINGTON, tlii« da v.

Auckland was described as a city with peculiar tastes in statuary during a brief but bitter period of recrimination in the House of Representative*, yesterday, when the Auckland City Km powering Rill was passing through its coniiuittee stages. A clause in this measure empowers the Auckland City Council to devote a portion of a bequest towards the co*t of erecting a group of

statuary in Albert Park

A. by the acting-l'rime Mini-iter. Mr. Kraser. that the House need not *pend a _ oreat deal of time on the bill since it <li<l nut contain anvthing of a controversial nature was disputed hv Mr. A. I-.. .7till (National. Waipawa). » lio said that groups of statuarv were among the most controversial subjects in the world. Auckland had found that out.

I am a student of art. like the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr. Parry," said Mr. Jull. "f was interested to read the other day that the famous statue of the Venus de Alilo was sandbagged to protect it from damage during air raids. While 011 this subject T believe that there i- a. verv fine piece of statuary at the entrance to the hospital in Auckland. However, to come back to the bill ... Heated Objection. Rising to a point of order, Mr. Eraser heatedly objected that Mr. .lull's remnrks were irrelevant. He did not think that the House or the country was in the mood for facetionsness, and unless the bill was tte«ited seriously he would move the closure at the first opportunity. Mr. .T111 1: T think perhaps the acting- j Prime Minister is right, although tliorc are times when we appreciate a littk> levity. "I would like to know what form this statuary will take?" said Mr. W. I. Lyon (Government, Waitemata). "I believe there was a considerable disturbance about some statuary in Auckland not many months afro." No "Bulldozing." Mr. Eraser's threat to terminate the discussion was strongly opposed by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo), who said that the Opposition would not be bulldosed or bullnosed by anybody. This declaration brought Air. Eraser to his feet again, and the acting-Prime Minister said it might be all right for Mr. Broadfoot to attempt to coin a newword. but no one could interfere with the privileges of the House. Mr. W. ,T. Poison (National, Stratford): But you just said you would. At this stage the Chairman of Committees (Mr. R. McKeen) intervened and asked Mr. Broadfoot to withdraw his remarks, lie-cause it seemed to him that members were introducing irrelevancies. Mr. B roadfoot withdrew, but protested I that he did not like being coerced. The Watson Bequest. When the discussion proceeded Air. Poison said it was proposed by the Auckland City Council to use part of a bequest from the late Air. A. R. D. Watson for a purpose other than for which it was intended. Auckland has shown peculiar tastes in respect to statuary, and strong feeling had been aroused. If must have been obvious that the testator had no knowledge of the sort of thing that might happen to hfs money. Had he seen the direction in which Auckland's tastes in statuary ran he might not have left a bequest. "Over the Odds." Protesting that the action of the member in charge of the bill (Air. W. T. Anderton, Government, Eden) in not making a full explanation of the measure was "over the odds," Mr. Pols>n declared that the proposition contained in the bill was a contravention of the fundamental principles of law. The House should not allow a thing of that kind.

The bill was put through all its stag.?s and passed without further debate.