New Zealanders Urged To Protect Historical Relics

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28926, 20 June 1959, Page 12

New Zealanders Urged To Protect Historical Relics

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. June 19.

The Government should act immediately to prevent valuable relics belonging to this country going overseas, according to Mr K. A. Webster, an authority on Polynesian ethnological material, who is visiting New Zealand. Mr Webster, who was born in New Zealand, is an antique dealer in London. He is spending a month in the country to discuss matters with museum authorities. Mr Webster suggested an Act of Parliament to prevent the property of national museums being alienated after it had been registered. As the owner of the finest known collection of New Zealand jade, including between 70 and 80 tikis which he has bequeathed to New Zealand, he had been concerned at the action of the former

Prime Minister -(Sir Sidney Holland) in obtaining a valuable tiki from the Dominion Museum and presenting it to the Emperor of Japan, Mr Webster said. This had emphasised the need for protective legislation.

“Sir Sidney Holland’s action has caused me to reconsider my decision to give my collection of jade tikis and ornaments to the Dominion Museum in case the same fate should befall any of the items.” said Mr Webster. “It is highly undesirable that it should be possible for a Prime Minister, or any other person, to acquire such things.”