MUSEUMS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25935, 15 October 1949, Page 3

MUSEUMS IN BRITAIN

OBSERVATIONS OF MR J. L. HAY

In an atmosphere of frustration the English people were turning to sport, music, museums, religion, art and cultural activities, said Mr J. L. Hay, who with Mrs Hay, was welcomed back at a meeting of the Friends of the Museum Association. Museums developing a new technique had become very popular with all sections of the community, and he had returned to New Zealand more than ever convinced that the Director of the Canterbury Museum (Mr Roger Duff) was working on the right lines with his idea of using the diorama to convey the story of an exhibit. Mr Hay said he considered that museums in the country should endeavour to draw on the great treasures in England by borrowing exhibits. If this was done the people in New Zealand would be given the opportunity of seeing all that was best m art and other exhibits. From conversations he had had with museum directors overseas he was quite certain that any obstacles could be surmounted. What was required, he said, was liaison in England. He considered the ideal man for the purpose was Mr T. Campbell, Public Relations Officer on the staff of the New Zealand High Commissioner in England. He found that most museums were in the course of transition to the diorama, said Mr Hay, and he observed that specialists were employed on this work. He had made some inquiries regarding the possibility of bringing one or more of these specialists out to New Zealand, but he had found there were some difficulties. He was told, however, that the authorities there would undertake the training of anyone sent from New Zealand, said Mr Hay. \