CRITICS ANSWERED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 8

CRITICS ANSWERED

ART GALLERY SOCIETY NEW SITE PROPOSED "We do not want picture manufacturers on our council, we are a board of trustees,” said the president of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, Sir Lindo Ferguson, at the annual meeting of the society yesterday afternoon, when referring to the offer of the Dunedin Art Society of a reciprocal appointment of two representatives on the respective councils. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the president gave a short history of the society and its vicissitudes. He spoke of the criticism which had been incurred during the past year by the purchase of certain paintings, especially “ Margate Sands,” by Frith, a canvas which had received favourable notice both in Punch and Lilliput, two English periodicals. Although the staff of the gallery was overworked, members were willing to give any information they could to the public, but not to enter into controversies with anonymous correspondents in the press. As for the fact that there were few doctors on the council, he could only suppose ’ that their fitness for these positions was due to their training in a close observation. Sir Lindo spoke of the proposed transfer of the gallery to a new site, and expressed a doubt whether a more suitable position could be found than the present one, which was flat, sunny and sheltered. This was apart from the fact that it would cost approximately £IOO,OOO to move the gallery. Referring to the possible alternative sites, he said that Littlebourne House was entirely unsuitable, while the Museum Reserve had already been encroached upon by a police station and a post office. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Sir Lindo Ferguson; vice-presidents—Messrs A. H. Allen, A. H. Fisher, H. Mandeno, and Dr F. Fitchett; council—Mesdames J. Mclndoe, sen., Gerald Ferguson, Miss Theomin, Messrs. F. D. Barrori, R. Hudson, J. A. Roberts, S. C. Sutherland, Dr Clarke Hanan, Mr W. Downie Stewart, and Dr Russell Ritchie.