FREE ART GALLERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 10

FREE ART GALLERIES.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S PLAN. POORER QUARTERS OF CITIES. EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. Reference to a suggestion that New Zealand was deficient in the arts was made by tlio Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at tho Wellington Orphans' Club last evening. His Excellency intimated that ho had been in communication with certain peoplo in England with tho idea that they might do something toward remedying tho deficiency and something that possibly might lead to tho establishment of free art galleries in tho poorer quarters of the four chief centres of tho Dominion.

So far as musical art was concerned, however, said Lord Bledisloe, ho had his doubts, for what ho had seen and heard had led him to believe that New Zealanders appreciated good music. Thcro might bo a deficiency as far as pictorial art was concerned.

"I feel that there is scope for really good pictures among tlioso whom I call tho rank and filo of the population," said His Excellency. "I mado an appeal to several of those who derive some portion of their wealth from tho Dominion to establish in each of tho four largest centres some exhibition of reproductions of tho old masters, preferably in tho working quarters of tho cities." After mentioning that tho sum ho had suggested was " pretty large," Lord Bledisloe added: "Yesterday I received a cablegram from ono of tho peoplo I communicated with in England. Tho cablegram read: 'Am in hearty agreement with your proposal and will be delighted to help, although perhaps not to tiio limit you suggest,' "