WAR TROPHIES

Evening Star, Issue 21219, 28 September 1932, Page 12

WAR TROPHIES

MUSEUM FOR EXHIBITS SUGGESTED DISCUSSION BY R.S.A. COMMITTEE The question of the establishment of a museum fox’ tho exhibition of war trophies was recently considered by tho executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association, and at a meeting last night tho matter was further discussed and then scut back to the subcommittee handling tho matter for fuller information to bo provided. Air A. AlTiutchon said there seemed to be a more or less settled proposition for the extension of the present building to provide for a museum. Ho was of tho opinion that the questkm should bo further considered to see if some of tho present club space could bo utilised for a museum. Personally, he thought tho proper place for a collection of war trophies was in the Dunedin Museum, hut he understood that tentative proposals made in that direction had been turned down by the Aluseum authorities. The present was a most inopportune time to go in for any. heavy expenditure. Roughly speaking, tho proposal to extend the building would cost approximately £2,000, and any appeal for subscriptions for tho money would not meet with much success just now. All their own funds wei’e wanted at present for tho indigent “ digger.” While he was not against the proposal to have a museum, he was opposed to any proposal for the extension of the building for the purpose. Air W. F. Forrester said ho agreed in the main with Air Al'Hutehon. He thought the committee should first look around tho club to see if some of the existing room could be used for a museum. He thought that perhaps the card room might be used, and that tho balcony upstairs might he enclosed. Show eases for showing the exhibits would probably cost a good deal. Instead of drawing up a proposal to spend £1 500 to £2,000 on extensions they should consider the using of some of tii© present accommodation. Air A. J. Gordon said it would not bo necessary to have very elaborate show cases. It might be possible to employ a joiner under the Poppy Day scheme to erect cases round the wal s. Air A. G. Leeden was also of the opinion that tho exhibits should be housed in tho Dunedin Museum. Two deputations to his knowledge, however had received an unfavourable reply when that had been suggested to the Aluseum authorities. They therefore had to do tho next best thing and endeavour to provide a museum on their own premises. That was a qnestion of monev, and if it could be raised satisfactorily lot them go on with the work. ~ ~ , Air H. L. Paterson said that any suggestion of having portion of the Dunedin Aluseum for tho purpose could bo ruled out absolutely, as those interested in the Aluseum were not in favour of it. At the Aluseum there were cellars full of exhibits which were taken out in turn for show. He was of the opinion that until they knew what they were going to get they should he satisfied with a number of wall cases, and sec what public support they were going to get. Alost of the exhibits would be small—there would not be big guns, and altogether tlmy would not take up much room. He agreed that the time was not opportune for seeking to ’■nise a large sum., Air Forrester said there was space in the card mom for cases that would bold a- considerable number of exhibits. Air Paterson said cases could be set up in various parts of the building. Air Gordon said that before they did anything definite they would need to have prices. Until then they could achieve nothing. If they found the cost prohibitive they could set about some scheme of housing the exhibits m the club. „ „ . , , The Chairman (Mr P. S. Anderson) said the executive itself would not have the power to say whether any alterations should be made in the building. Such a matter would have to be put to a general meeting of members, and decided on a majority as provided by the rules. All the executive could do would be to put a recommendation before a general pieetiug. They would need to get plans and specifications before tbev knew where they were. In bis opinion, they should first call for donations of war trophies, and be thought they could find portion of the dub to house tFom. In that way they would he establishing the foundation of a museum, and he starting at tho bottom instead of the fop of the ladder. He thought £2.000 was a conservative estimate of the cost, and he viewed with disfavour the expenditure of such a sum at the present time. Air J. S. Skinner suggested that the best thing would be for the whole matter to be referred hack to the committee, which could put something definite in writing before the executive. He was certain that members had no idea of the response that would lie made when donations of trophies were called for. They would not he able to house them in any of the rooms of the club, and he doubted if they would have the room to store them, Mr Skinner moved that the; matter he referred back to the committee for a report. Mr M'Hutclion moved as an amendment that it he an instruction to the committee not to prosecute further inquiries in respect to an extension to the building, hut to confine its report to the facilities in the present building for the formation of a museum. The amendment was lost and the motion carried.