ART GALLERY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 2

ART GALLERY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The approach of the Mayoral election, and the reference to the subject in the speech of Mr. Crawford, a candidate for the office, makes 4he present time opportune for again calling the attention of citizens to the importance of providing a properly constructed Public Art Gallery. Mr. Crawford rightly refers to the fact that we have no such gallery as a stigma laid on the city. The Academy as a private society has, by strenuous efforts, aided by public subscriptions during a series of years, formed a collection of pictures ot considerable value, which it has opened to the public, but it has proved beyond its power to provide a gallery suitable for their . exhibition and adequate for their safety. The providing of such a gallery is universally regarded as a function and duty of the Siate or municipality. Tne existing conditions of this Dominion render it hopeless to look to the State to provide «* national gallery, and we therefore look to the municipality in the hope tha,t it will follow the lead Auckland has so well given in this matter. In order that the position may lie clearly put before the public, I subjoin an extract from a letter I had the honour to address to his Worship the Mayor on the- 27th February, 1908 :— "The importance of providing a permanent home tor these pictures io recognised by all classes of the community, and I submit it is a work that may with propriety be undertaken by this "municipality, and suggest that the vacant, lanu adjacent, to the Town Hall might be utilised for 't.. The upper floor of a building on that site would probably afford sufficient accommodation. The site of the present Academy building is a valuable* one, and, although we have at present no power to sell it, that could probably be obtained, and the proceeds applied to the further purchase of works of art, which, with those now in the possession ot the Academy, might ' be handed o%'er to the city if the necessary arrangements were made to justify the Academy in doing so. "In submitting this for your consideration, 1 will intimate- what I consider would satisfy the requirements of the Academy :— (i) That a gallery of ample size, properly lighted, be provided for the pictures, and with an entrance hall or vestibule suitable for sculpture. (2) That a suitable hall, properly lighted, be available for the use of the Academy for its exhibitions at such times as shall be fixed by the Academy, with a room for stomge, fnd a. council room (which can ■be used as i an office), available at all times free of | charge. (3) That fhe Public Art Gallery be under the control of a committee of three (3) of the municipal body, and the president for the time being and two members of the council of the Academy.'' j That letter has been submitted to the City Council, without result, as con- J Eideration of it has been postponed from time to time, but I hope it will yet lead to negotiation and action, which will result in the removal of the stigma on our city to which Mr. Crawford rtterred.—l am, etc., H. S. WARDELL, President New Zealand Academy F A sth April.