PICTURES ON LOAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21976, 10 June 1933, Page 10

PICTURES ON LOAN

The account given by Mr P. R. Sargood at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society of the position of the project in which the Empire Art Loan Collections Society is concerned revealed the emergence of certain difficulties in respect of its fruition. These are of a financial kind, connected with the measure of support which art gallery authorities and such interested bodies in Australia and New Zealand are prepared to guarantee to the enterprise. A considerable collection of pictures cannot be brought overseas and shown at various places without the incurring of expense, and the finance of the undertaking v necessarily has to be placed in advance on a satisfactory footing. The project itself, at the stage at which it now stands, is mainly the outcome of Mr Sargood’s own exertions and of the manner in which he has been able to impart his enthusiasm to others and to secure their co-operation. A very fine selection of pictures from some of the splendid private collections in the Old Country—borrowing from the national collections not being as yet possible though it may be rendered so in the future, if the British Government is not obdurate—has been made available, and, as Mr Sargood has explained, would already have been in this part of the world but for the delay over arrangements as to finance. It would be deplorable, however, were this inaugural effort on the part of the Empire Art Loan Collections Society, and all that it offers the public in these dominions, to be permitted to fall through at its present stage for lack of the necessary support on this side of. the world. As Mr Sargood has put it,; we cannot afford to allow all the enthusiasm shown in the efforts of the Society at Home to die for want of equal enthusiasm and support at this end. A rare educational opportunity is offered, and it is very desirable that it should be grasped. If all the Australian States, or most of them, together with the majority of the New Zealand centres, lend their co-operation in the scheme, the expenditure entailed would, in any event, Mr Sargood has pointed out, be very small. Moreover, if this project is carried into effect a most attractive vista will be opened up in the future extension of the scheme for the benefit of the people of the Empire at large. It is greatly to be hoped that a way will present itself of overcoming such difficulties as have arisen, and that the undertaking will be accorded the support, both in Australia and New Zealand, to which, upon its merits, it \is so obviously entitled. The Empire Art Loan Collections Society has done its part, and it is almost inconceivable that, through the discovery of any such obstacles as have been indicated —and they really do not appear at all formidable —there should be inadequate co-opera-tion on the part of these dominions towards the fulfilment of a project so advantageous to their citizens.