DOMINION MUSEUM

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1924, Page 6

DOMINION MUSEUM

"KEEP, PEGGING AWAY"

CONTROL BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

The hardy topic of the Dominion Museum came up at this morning's meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. The Standing Committee reported that as a result of negotiations with the Acting-Prime Minister the most valuable exhibits in the old building-were being removed for safety to fireproof rooms in the Dominion Farmers' Institute s Building. Dr. Charles Chilton stressed the urgency of the erection of a new museum building, and remarked that the only means of moving the Government to action was to keep "pegging away" until something was done. The President, Professor Kirk: "We are accustomed to passing very urgent and "pressing resolutions, and the Government has become accustomed to take no notice of them." ' Another delegate suggested that a further deputation should wait on the Government in the matter. « _Mr.N P. G. Morgan said'he did not think it was worth while to approach the Government by deputation. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, had expressed himself favourably in the matter, and seemed to support the proposal for a new building. Dr. C. C. Farr moved: "That the institute urge the Government to proceed at the earliest possible moment with the erection of a suitable building for a Dominion Museum in Wellington." It was time the matter was brought to a head, he remarked. It had been debated year after year, and matters appeared to be becoming worse and worse, for the museum was becoming more and more crowded. A climax was surely about to be reached. If a resolution ■were passed by the board it might have the effect of bringing the thing to a head. r- ■ Mr. H. Hill thought the motion should bi framed in stronger terms. He seconded the proposal. Professor H. W. Segar said the citizens of Wellington might raise a; portion ■; of the cost 'of the new building. All the other cities in the Dominion had had to, build their own museums, and he did not see why Wellington should not do the same. The president remarked that it wasexceedingly difficult to induce the citizens of a town —even Wellington—to support a purely Government institution. The motion was carried. The Hon. G. M. Thomson said the BoaTd. of Science and Art haß already urged upon the Government the necessity of introducing a Bill placing'the control of the museum in the hands of a board of trustees. Unless the control of the institution was taken absolutely out of the hands of a Government Department and put under the control of a board of trustees, they could not expect the support of the citizens, who at the present time would not give a-cent towards it. He moved: "That the institute urge upon the Government the advisability of placing the Dominion Museum under the control of a board of trustees." This was seconded by Mr. P. G. Morgan and carried unanimously.