CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10133, 16 May 1896, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

SOCIETY OF ARTS EXHIBITION. TO THE EDITOR. Sib.—Free discussion and full ventilation of the affairs of the above Society must result in good, and therefore I for one welcome the letter signed " Protinus" in your columns of this morning. lam sure the committee will he glad of any suggestions from an outsider. It strikes me, however, that in the first place " *j nuß la bours under a false impression, and that in the second place some of his suggestions are rather fanciful, if not im-' possible. Was the last exhibition so very unsuccessful that we as a Society are about to give up the ghost? Who where the many former exhibitors who failed to send this year? I only know of one. Mr, John Gibb, of Christchurch, and I rather think his reason for not sending would be financial rather than'sentimental. It does not pay him. Why, sir, this year w* have largely increased our members' list; subscriptions have been easier to get in, and our takings have been larger than for some year* past. Surely this does not look like dying just yet. '. Now, a word or two about the suggestions. "Protinus" thinks we should have a larger committee— artists, but lovers of arl who make no money by it. A very good idea; but where are the men? We find a great difficulty in getting men of ability to give the time and attention required. II " Protinus" will kindly hand in the names ol a dozen or two men of the right sort, I will do all in my power to get them elected. Next, the President should be an artist not engaged in tuition. Well, I say again, "'Protinus,' nana the man!" Then the secretary should be a man of proved capscitj and integrity. Does "Protinus" mean' t< say that our esteemed secretary, Mr. Stuart, is not a man of known integrity ? No exhibitor shouhl be on the hanging committee, Really " Protinus " brings out his suggestioni with amusing coolness. Who would do tin hanging? Where, I ask again, are the men who have such an innate love for art that while they make nothing out of it, are willing to give their time and talents for such a thankless task as hanging committee at th« annual exhibition ? The next suggestion is an admirable one, if within the range of possibility: A per. maner.t home of our own: a building, de signed aiJi lighted specially for our pictures | a room where our pictures might hang on th« walls for sale, all the year round, etc. What an entrancing prospect. But the monej question comes in, and throws a damper ovei the scene. Why, if the pictures were alwayi on view, some one would have to be alwayi in charge, to sell them, and I am afraid th# commission would pay a very small fraction of the salary. But, then these little difficulties would all disappear, if only the right committee were elected; so, again I say, " Protinus, where are the men?"—l am, etc., Charles Blojjfielu,