BUILDING NATIONAL ART GALLERY AND DOMINION MUSEUM

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7322, 4 September 1930, Page 6

BUILDING NATIONAL ART GALLERY AND DOMINION MUSEUM

Farmer Members Protest IN VIEW OP FINANCIAL STRINGENCY Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In tiho House of Representatives tonight the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. Replying to Mr Coates, Hon. E. A. Ransom said the Bill provided for the incorporation of the Board to establish maintain, and control the National Art Gallery, Dominion Museum, War Memorial Carillon and Hall of Memories. In addition to vesting in the board the land promised as a site for the buildings at Mount Cook, Wellington, there was provision for a subsidy of £IOO,OOO for the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum and a subsidy of £15,000 for the carillon. There was no provision for a contribution towards tho maintenance costs of the buildings because the need for such contribution w r ould not arise this year. As the Government had already contributed towards tho maintenance costs of the existing museum ho anticipated it would contribute rn this respect to the costs of tho new building. Tho subsidy towards tho cost of tho erection of the carillon would bo paid this year as he expected the building would commence almost immediately. The subsidy for the other buildings would not be paid before the end of March. Members pointed out that the demolition of tho old barracks at Mt. Cook and the erection of tho new buildings would provide a good deal of employment and they urged that tho w'ork should be undertaken as soon as possible. Mr Ransom Said if it were desirable that this work should be undertaken before March it would be possible to do so because the board would have in hand £IOO,OOO contributed by tho public. The Government's subsidy of £IOO,OOO would not be available till next year. Mr J. W. Poison entered a protest against tho Government expending money on the museum at a time like present. Mr Peter Fraser declared that the Government was simply putting into operation a promise of long standing. Ho pointed out that the project was a national one. Mr H. M. Campbell said he considered the sohemo could have waited another year or two in view of the present stringent financial position. If money should be spent to provide work for the unemployed it should be spent on developmental work in tho country. The Bill was read a first time.