DOMINION MUSEUM

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 6

DOMINION MUSEUM

The Board of Science and Art meets Sir F. Heath to-day to discuss matters connected with the visit to the Dominion of that scientific authority. We need not say that the conversations will be of great benefit, for that goes without saying. As the Dominion has attained its present position by conversations with the right people, it is evident that the meeting to-day is only a continuation of the process started by the pioneers and still in force. Science, however, has not been as solidly benefited by the process as many other things. The fact adds to the satisfaction felt by the public about to-day’s meeting. We trust that the opportunity will be taken to announce some definite progress with the idea of the new museum. The museum is our most valuable scientific storehouse. Unhappily, the building is as inadequate and unsuitable as it is old and unsafe. This has long been both evident and universally acknowledged. This the Government has practically acknowledged, with the conditional promise of a grant. To take advantage of this the representatives, of science and art have combined forces in support of a building to serve the purposes of both museum and art gallery. The combination is getting on well enough, if somewhat slowly. This is a misfortune, due, perhaps, to the uncertainty that has lately developed as to the site. Now, that question ought not to have the. power to cause any delay, for the simple reason that the question has no right to exist. There is really no question. This because the present site belongs to the museum, for which it was primarily given. It is also the best possible site in the city, which, as the capital, is the right place for a Dominion museum. 1 Rumour and authorities less dubious are busy with tales of change, on the ground, amongst others, that the site ought to be utilised for the accommodation of members of Parliament during the sessions of Parliament. Very desirable. for that purpose the site is, no doubt. Very desirable, also, to the hungry street boy is the display in the windows of the “cookie” Shops. But desirability, however keen, does not constitute anything approaching a title. This property “belongs,” and cannot be diverted from its belonging. . If this question, which should never have been raised, were settled as it ought to be", the delay in the building of the new museum on the right side would promptly end. With that object in view, the Board of Science, and Art might mak£ a pronouncement of decisive value that would secure the safety of the valuable museum collections in the quickest possible time.