NEW DOMAIN GATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 13

NEW DOMAIN GATES

Sir, —When the good people c? Waipu erected their statue of a. lion rampant, they tied a napkin round his loins, and have been n laughing stock to all passers by ever since. Let us by all means hasten to do likewise to our domain statue and thus add to the gaiety of nations. I?. A. LAUCDTEII. Sir, —Tt is much to be regretted that such a line statue as the newly erected figure at the entrance to the Domain should be completely spoiled by its blatant nudity. Surely this is quite unnecessary as one will realise if one takes the trouble to look through a picture gallery of the finest statues in existence, ancient and modern. Almost without exception the master sculptors have deemed it seemly to add a slight covering—loin cloth, drapery or vine leaf—to the masculine nude figure, and in doing so in no wav detracted from its vigour and force. The greatest art calls to the imagination and sensitiveness of the onlooker, and this the statue in question would have achieved to a marked degree bub for its one defect. I hope this may be remedied in some way so that not just the few insensitive ones but that every Auckland citizen can admire unreservedly this latest addition to their, domain. Surely this is what the donor intended. LYSIPPUS.

Sir, —The bronze statue has attracted the ga/.e of motorists and pedestrians passing the site of the new domain gates. One and all have no eyes for anything else; —not even the safety of the road. Onlookers now stroll across the road liko star gazers and cars swerve about while drivers and passengers crane out to get a better view. This much-discussed statue may be decent or indecent —but it has certainly not contributed anything toward the safety of the road in that particular locality. Perhaps the City Council V'quld be well advised in appointing a traffic officer to stand on duty during busy hours and to warn errent motorists until such time as we return to normal in scrutinising this work of art. Otherwise there may be a few more accidents to add to the already large total. Anyway, the hospital is not far away. ' Pasquino