THE ART GALLERY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 7

THE ART GALLERY

LIGHTING OF GROUNDS COUNCIL DISCUSSION A recommendation in the repbrt of the tramways, electricity, and streetlighting committee to a request that the council should meet the cost of instal[ling and maintaining a suitable light j ing system in the grounds, of, the National Art Gallery and Museum led to suggestions by councillors at the meeting of the Wellington City Council last night regarding the lighting in the vicinity of the National \ War Memorial Carillon and in respect of Art Gallery and Museum hours.- The council decided to decline the request made to it, but adopted the committee's proposal that the council should bear half the annual cost of the lighting if the Board of Trustees decides to pro» ceed with the installation. • Councillor L. McKerizie said that coming down from the Gallery at night it was shockingly dark in the vicinity of the Carillon. An accident could occur there quite readily./ He. .thought the matter should be looked iinto. Councillor W. J. VGatfdhu'lt is not our;pidgin. .; "■•, fV ,,; -^ Councillor McKenzie: That just d* pends. It.is a public place."r OPENING AT NiGMTS. Councillor M.F./Luckier said that quite, apart. from. tjie lighijjig in the grounds it seemed a .great pity that the builf/ig should be open tb the public only until 5 pjn. because,that practically barred the 'great; body of the working :pubUcfr6m s /seeing : the exhibits. Some". representations should be made to the: authorities, of whom the Mayor, was;' one,' to see if the Museum and Art Gallery could not be open until id o'clock ,- on ;w,eek nights. Councillor K. A. Wright, M.P., said there was a very great deal in what Councillor Luckie -had said,; but, he understood the Board bt Trustees had not too:much;.money t6.-oqme and goon.-.- '■■ ' .-..'i ':■■> ' : v !":"'- ' "v- - Councillor Wright agreed: that if the building could be kept pfieni at night or on some nightsat Would certainly be a boon to a great many .people. Reverting;to.the;question of the e» terior lighting, Councillor T. Brindle, M.L.C., said that he did'hot think many'lights would be -required. A good light or two at the side, it seemei to him, should meet the requirement*. Councillor A. Black suggested that the floodlighting of the buildiflg in front added to the difficulty l rather than reduced: it. There was< the. question of liability in the event of an accident taking place. It was a very. important point. ".,■"-'.- : Councillor Luckier We'would b# morally responsible. : COSTS OF LIGHTING SCHEME. The Mayor (Mr. T. C.Ai fiislop) said that a report oh a lightin$ l sCheme had been called for arid a scheme had been prepared by the late Mr! G: Lauchlan. The complete installation ;under thii scheme was estimated to cost approximately £BOO, and. £IBO .periannum tot. the maintenance of /the lamps and current,, on the assumption "that- the lights were switched off at 10.30 /pjn. The Board of; Trustees Was -.; the body responsible for anything 7 that might occur there. He could see Ho reason why the council should jbe called upon to bear the whole of the cost The suggestion was that the council should meet half the annual cost-of maintenance and leave it to the Board of Trustees to put forward a proposition . as to how the cost of the installation should be met. He thought that wa» as far.as theytcould gb:;:. On the other question, the opening i of the building at night,.'the Mayor said he would bring: this before th« ' notice, of ,the Board .of; Trustees.