CULTURAL ASPECTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 114, 7 February 1935, Page 11

CULTURAL ASPECTS

Carnegie Corporation President’s Visit WELLINGTON LUNCHEON •To honour Dr. F. P. Keppel, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Mrs. Keppel, who are visiting Wellington, the 'board of trustees or the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, and of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, arranged < luncheon, which was held in the Mid land Hotel yesterday. The 1 rime Mn ister, Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, presided. Shortly before the luncheon a , rece l* tion was held in the hotel and in he afternoon the party proceeded to Mount Cook to inspect the buildings in couis of erection. „ . ’ , r Together with the guests of honour and the Prime Minister, who is chan man of the boa rd of trustees of the A Gallery and Museum, there weie pie sent at the luncheon Mrs. rbes - Alexander Young, Munster of Intelal Affairs and deputy-chairman of the board; Sir Harold Beauchamp, member of the board, and Lady Beauchamp; Mr. G. A. Bucklin, ConspLGeneral loi the United States, and Mis. Bucklin, Mr. G. A. Troup, chairman of the board s finance committee, and Mrs. Troup; Dr. W R B. Oliver, director ot the Dominion Museum, and Mrs. Oliver; Mr. 1). A. Ewen, president of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, and Mis. Ewen; Mr. T. R. Barren, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, and Mrs Barrer ; Dr. P. Marshall, representing the president of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and Mrs. Marshall; Mr B. C. Aston, vice-president of the society; Mr. W. F. Hogg, vice-president of the Academy of Fine Arts and honorary solicitor to the board of trustees, and Mrs. Hogg; Mr. 11. A. Huggins, member of the. Wellington City Council ; Mr. F. 11. Bass, secretary to the board of trustees, and Mrs. Bass; Mr. W. 11. Glimmer, representing Messrs. Glimmer and Ford and partners, architects for the group of buildings; Mr. T. D. 11. Hall, Dr. J. S. Elliott, Miss G. Richmond, Mr. W. Gray Young, Mr. Nugent Welch and Dr. A. D. Carbery, council members of the academy; Mr. E. D. Gore, secretary of the academy; Mrs. T. D. H. Hall and Mrs. Gray Young. Among the apologies received were those from the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Mayor of Wellington and de-puty-chairman of the board of trustees. Prime Minister’s Welcome. Dr. and Mrs. Keppel were welcomed by Mr. Forbes. Being chairman of the board, he remarked, was a very pleasant occupation, particularly because of the connections one made through it. Although president, he had to confess that lie bad never seen, the group of buildings at present being erected at Mount Cook except fronixa distance; thus for him it would be most interesting to be able to see the progress of the work that afternoon. Mr. Forbes recalled that the foutida-tion-stone had been laid in April, 1934, by the Governor-General, Lord Biedisloe, and said that the work was expected to be finished in June of next year. He was pleased to have Dr. Keppel on the spot so that he might see exactly what was being done in Wellington in providing a national museum and art gallery. On behalf of the Academy Fine Arts, Mr. Ewen welcomed Dr. Keppel not only as a very distinguished ambassador from the United States, but also as president of an institution that embodied in its administration and organisation so much that was of the best in the wide encouragement of culture throughout the world. New Zealand was a young country; therefore all the more was it interested in the great movements taking place in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States, a country more untrammelled by traditions and conservatism than many others.

“I am glad to be able to speak of the very great kindness shown my wife and myself while we have been in New Zealand, and particularly in Wellington,” Dr. Keppel said in reply. It had. been felt recently, he continued, that the first real museums and fine art academies in a nation’s cities were almost a sure sign of a certain stage of maturity in the life of the community. By a “real” museum or art gallery was meant one that definitely was a service to the community. In all cultural activities the Carnegie Corporation was following the progress of New Zealand with great interest, and it intended to continue doing so in the future, lie concluded. VICTORIA COLLEGE Dr. and Mrs. Keppel Visit * Council A luncheon was tendered by the council of Victoria Univeraity College to Dr. F. P. Keppel, president of the

Carnegie Corporation, and Mrs. Keppel on Tuesday at Weir House. Mr. p. Levi, chairman of the council, presided. In addition to the members of the college council there were present Professors T. A. Hunter, W. 11. Gould and Rankine Brown; Dr. C. E. Beeby of the New Zealand Council for Education Research; Dr. I. Sutherland, warden of Weir House; Mr. N. G. Miller, librarian of Victoria College; Mr. T. D. H. Hall, Clerk of the House of Repreeentatives; Mr. N. T. Lambourne, Director of Education; Mr. G. A. Bucklin, American Consul ; Mr. A. D. McIntosh, of the Prime Minister’s Department. Prior to the luncheon, Dr. Keppel visited the headquarters of the Council for Education Research and Victoria College library, both of which are benefiting at present from the aid of the Carnegie Corporation.