A VIGOROUS PROTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 8

A VIGOROUS PROTEST

OVERSEAS EXHIBITS LIMITING SPACE AT IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. SIR JAMES ALLEN PERTURBED. By Telerrapli.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received June 2. 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 1. Sir James Allen (High Commissioner for New Zealand) is vigorously protesting against a proposal by the British Government to transfer the Imperial War Museum front the Crystal Palace to the Imperial Institute, thereby limiting the snaco in which is displayed the exhibits representing tho products and manufactures and the resources of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the Crown colonics, forming the principal attractions to the Imperial Institute. Sir James Allen, interviewed by the Australian Press Association, said he had received a letter from Mr Winston Churchill notifying that Cabinet had agreed that the War Museum be transferred to the Imperial Institute, subject to the consent of the Dominions. The British Government was willing to contribute £SOOO in addition to £lO.000 already payable by the British Government supplementary to £30,000 which tho Dominions and Crown colonies agreed to contribute annually. Sir James Allen wrote to Mr Churchill as follows: “I think it is only right to tell you, on behalf of my Government, that I cannot agree to the Imperial Institute being used for the purposes of a War Museum. If the proposal is persisted in, I shall deem it my duty to recommend no further contributions towards tlie Imperial Institute by New Zealand.” Sir James Allen states that some of the overseas Governments seemed to be under the impression that the British Government’s offer of £SOOO additional would' be a reduction of the joint contribution of £30,000, but. as a matter of fact, they would still be liable for the full contribution, while the space for overseas exhibits at the Imperial Institute would be restricted, and the purpose of the Imperial Institute largely nullified by the introduction of class exhibits, which were alien to the purpose for which the Institute was established.