STATE INFLUENCE

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 111, 21 September 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

STATE INFLUENCE

WORK OF THE SILVERSMITH sf Lord Baldwin’s eloquent plea for a revived patronage of the craft of the silversmith when examining the modern silverwork oil show at the Goldsmiths’ Hall in London might have drawn on him some reproach as a Prime Minister emeritus, though it seems that it was Mr Gladstone who was largely to blame, says the '■Manchester Guardian." II might have been pointed out to Lord Baldwin that the State was. until comparatively recently a fairly munificent patron of silverwork on behalf of Cabinet Ministers. Pertain Ministers used lo be entitled to a supply of plate. Moreover, there wore always handsome furnishings in the rooms of Ministers in Whitehall — splendour which Lord Gurzon recalled when he denounced a miserable cheeseparing policy which left him wilh nothing heller Hum a "glass and brass" inkstand in place of the silver i and crystal of happier days. I As ofLcn as Minislers went out and came in the Slate exercised its useful patronage anew, since the outgoing Minister was privileged to take his silver inkstand away with him ami this would have to be replaced for bis ! successor, until Mr Gladstone slopped * the practice. At least, therefore, Lord 'Baldwin, miglil remind his successors ! that the Stale should sot an example. Perhaps some small percentage ot Ihc annual £20,00P recently allotted for Civil Service sport might show the Stale as palron again by being spent on cups showing more oral tsmansliip than is general nowadays.