A WAR MUSEUM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 5

A WAR MUSEUM

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING A question TegaTding tho preparation of a War Museum for New Zealand was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Eon. E. H. Rhodes (Ellesmore). During his own -visit to Gallipoli, Mr. Rhodes said, ho had arranged at the request of tho Defence Minister for tho collection of mementoes, but probably most of the articles had been lost during tho evacuation. He understood that some action had been taken by the Government subsequently, and he would like the Minister of Internal Affairs to mako a-, statement to tho House on the subject. Tho Hon. G. W. Russell said that ever sinco the outbreak of war tho Government had attempted to secure material for a War Museum that would illustrate New Zealand's part in the great struggle. Efforts had been made by the Defence Department and by the Department of Internal Affairs to obtain copies of tho publications issued on tho troopships, nnd tho Defence* Department had asked the G.O.C. at tho front to endeavour to securo war mementoes. Mr. Russell added that a few days ago ho had asked tho Director of tho Dominion Museum for a report as to what had been done in the matter. He had sent a copy of this report to tho Minister of Defence, and ho proposed to confer with that Minister with n view to ensuring that an adequato collection of war mementoes would be secured for the Dominion. Ho believed that the House should ~be asked to provide a substantial sum of money for this purpose, so that thero might be no delay and no hitch. Tho mementoes should include guns captured by the New Zealand Army, and other relics of actual operations in the field. Tho Defence Department could take moro effective action in tho matter than tho Internal Affairs Department.