WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 13

WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM.

MAORI COLLECTION DESIRED. HAMILTON READY TO ASSIST, fBY TELEGRAPH.—OWS COSEESPONDBTT.J HAMILTON. Thursday. - A request for the co-operation of the Hamilton Borough Council in building up the collections to be placed in the new War Memorial Museum at Auckland, was received from the Auckland Institute last evening. It was pointed out that there were many small collections of Maori craftsmanship, but these could not have the same public interest or educational value as a large collection properly classified and arranged. It was suggested that the holders of such collections would be glad to place them in the War Memorial Museum, where they would be considerably safer, and would be displayed to the best advantage, thus stimulating a more general interest in the handiwork of the Maori race. The Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, said it would be a very fine thing to have a provincial museum* that would be representative and have an effective display of Mao.i work and handicrafts. He moved that a letter be sent stating that the council approved of the suggestions, and off'jied anv assistance in.its power. Mr. F. A, de la Mare, in seconding, said he did not think that the general public realised the ethnological interest a complete • collection of' Maori ■ Work ~ would have. He hoped the whole of the province would respond to the appeal. When the time came for the construction of a museum in Hamilton the public would b® able to count on the assistance of tho Auckland Museum in building up a collection. Mr. J. R. McKinnon moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the Legal and Finance C-ommittee for further discussion. Every museum had started from small beginnings, and he considered that collections should be preserved with a view to starting a museum in Hamilton in the future. There had never been any suggestion previously that the War Memorial Museum should be a provincial one, and he urged that Hamilton's future interests should bo taken into consideration. The amendment was seconded by Mr. A. E. Webb, but was lost on a show of hands. The Mayor's motion was earned.