ARTILLERY MUSEUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23328, 21 October 1937, Page 9

ARTILLERY MUSEUM

AN AUCKLAND PROPOSAL DISPOSAL OF WAR RELICS (Special to Dae/sT s Times) AUCKLAND, Oct. 20. A suggestion that obsolete gum and field pieces which at present create an eyesore in otherwise attractive parks and reserves .could be profitably transferred to a special artillery museum, where they would be of much greater interest to the public, was made by Sir George Richardson at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Museum. This proposal was made following the receipt of a letter from the Auckland City Council, suggesting the removal of the war relics in Albert Park to the museum. .. ' 1

Remarking that he disliked the idea that they should be transferred to the museum,: Sir George suggested that the best way of disposing of relics of this type was the formation of an artillery museum. He said he thought that the North Head at Devonport would provide an ideal situation, but he did not suggest that the Museum Council should accept control. .It would be administered by a Government department, he said. “The idea is not without precedent,” Sir George continued. “ There was an artillery museum on the Woolwich Common, which was visited by many hundreds of people, who found it both fascinating and interesting. Many... of the armaments now lying in local parks and reserves had been. allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. They were without paint and were purely junkf of metal. If they were assembled in some suitable reserve with records prominently displayed, they would prove of much greater interest to the public than if they remained scattered about all over the nlacß.” “An excellent idea,” commented Mr A. G. Lunn, in drawing attention to the great interest displayed in the collection of figure-heads at the naval base. Other members of the counciheartily comm-mded di»- U- -7es suggestion, and il was decided reply to the City Council, outlining the proposal.