Museum Criticism

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 298, 13 September 1937, Page 10

Museum Criticism

Sir,—ln Friday's “Dominion appears a report of statements made by Captain Humphreys-Davies about the Dominion Museum. Captain Davies "as b oou enough to say that Auckland Museum was one of the world’s finest. (Loud applause, no doubt.) His criticism ot the Dominion Museum is based on misconception The Dominion Museum and National Art Gallery building is not, and never was, intended to be a war memorial lhe Carillon Campanile is part ot the National War Memorial; when the proposed Hall of Memories is built the two structures will be the National War Memorial. The trustees were fortunate m obtain; ing the present site, although it is 3W vards from a tram and the captain had to walk up a few steps to reach the building. It is true that at present the building is near some awful slums, but these arc being cleared away. Captain Davies is quite wrong m stating that there is a heterogeneous collection in one section of the Dominion Museum constituting the worst exhibit of any museum in the world, presumably worse than the “jumble heap” in Christchurch. He may be thinking of a small collection in one room in the Art Gallery and if this is the case it is a reflection on his powers of observation. His remarks arc a reflection on the very able, experienced and widely travelled director whose plan of exhibits is sound and well carried out. . Beside being wide of the mark, Captain Davies's remarks are in the worst possible taste. Healthy and unbiased criticism is good and acceptable but the gallant captain’s story savours too much of pettv fault-finding and for that reason his pious hope that no one will be offended will be fully realised. —I am, etc„ Wellington, September 10.