FEARS FOR A PAINTING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 6

FEARS FOR A PAINTING

Danger of Loss at Sea Whether a painting of considerable artistic and historic importance, from the collection in the Canterbury Museum, should be risked at sea in a war-time journey to the United States was questioned by members of the Canterbury University College Council at its meeting yesterday. The painting, by J. C. Richmond, is titled “Ngatapa” and was intended to form part of a loan collection of New Zealand paintings being sent by the New Zealand Government for display in the United States by the Carnegie Corporation. When the museum and library committee of the council reported that it had approved the loan of the painting, Dr. Helen Simpson said she objected to sending it abroad at this time because of the danger. Ships had recently been sunk in the Pacific by enemy action. Mr H. D. Acland said the collection of which this picture was part would go by a United States ship. Mr W. C. Colee, chairman of the museum and library committee, said he also would emphasise that there was practically no danger because the painting would travel by a United States ship. The Department of Internal Affairs said the collection would not be sent if there was danger. The Dunedin Art Gallery and the Hocken Library had agreed to pictures being sent in the collection. The Carnegie Corporation had provided the fellowships by which several members of the college staff had recently studied in the United States. Mr W. P. Spencer asked if the picture was very valuable. “It could not be replaced if it were lost,” said Mr J. H. E. Schroder. “It is not a question of lending or of not lending, but of the time of lending.” The opinion of the Department of Internal Affairs about danger at sea would not save any ship or any cargo. Archbishop West-Watson said that as it was largely due to the United States that New Zealand was not being bombed now the matter should be considered carefully. ' Dr. J. Hight said that 18 months ago a Carnegie Corporation art representative visited New Zealand and Australia about an exchange of pictures. The Australian pictures went last year. The New Zealand Government had decided that a representative collection would be sent. This was the collection of which the picture under discussion would fox-m a part. It had been chosen as a very fine example of the work of one of the best New Zealand artists and as being of historical interest. The proposal was referred back to the committee.