JIMMY ALLEN ALARMED.

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1922, Page 7

JIMMY ALLEN ALARMED.

OVEfc A TIN POT EXHIBITION. WAR OR TRADE MUSEUM? (Received June 3 at 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. June 2. Sir James Allen is vigorously protesting against a proposal by the British Government to transfer the Imperial War Museum from Crystal Palace to the Imperial Institute, thereby limiting the spree at the Institute m which there are now displayed the exhibits representing the products, manufactures and rcsouces of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the Crown Colonies forming principal attractions to the Imperial Institute. Sir J: mes Allen( interviewed by the Australian Press Association sai'l he had received a letter from Mr Churchill, notifying that the British Cabinet had agreed that the War Museum be transferred to the Imperial Institute, subject to the consent of the Dominions. The British Government is willing to contribute £5,000 in addition to £lO,OOO already pay: ble by the British Government, supplementary to £30,000 which the Dominions and Crown Colonies agreed to contribute annually. Sir James Allen wrote to Mr Churchill:—“l think it only right to tell you. on behalf of my Government, that I cannot agree to the Imperial Institute being used for the purposes of War Museum. If this proposal is persisted in, I shall deem it my duty to recommend no further contribution to w‘rd the Imperial Institute by New Zealand.” Sir .1. Allen sites that some of the overseas governments seemed to be under an impression that the British Government’s offer of £5,000 additional money would be a reduction of the joint overseas contribution of £30,000, but, as a matter of fact, they would still be liable for the full contribution, while their space for overseas exhibits at tlie Imperial Institute would be restricted, and the puij'ose of the the Imperial institute would be largely nullified by the introduction of a class of exhibits which are alien to the purpose for which the Institute has been <‘st a blished.