ART GALLERY SITE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 29

ART GALLERY SITE.

CITY COUNCIL AGAIN APPROACHED. THE BUILDING OFFERED TO THE CITY. The Art Gallery controversy which has aroused such very keen interest of late advanced a further stage on Thursday, when the City Council held a special meeting at 5 • o'clock to receive a deputation from a meeting of citizens held the evening before. At that meeting the following resolution was adopted:— “That this meeting of citizens urges the City Council to acquire the Exhibition Art Gallery at Logan Park as a permanent gallery to house the municipal collection of pictures aiid other works of art for the following reasons:—(l) The present Art Gallery in Cumberland street is too small to enable the pictures now owned by the city and those recently acquired at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition to be properly -hung. (2) It is badly lit accord ing to modern ideas of lighting picture galleries. (3) The high cost of making the necessary alterations and additions to the present gallery if it were decided to retain same. (4) The Exhibition Gallery is generally recognised as being built on the most modern lines, and is in every way suitable for the display of pictures and other works of art. The meeting further appointed Sir Lindo Ferguson and Dr C. E. Hercus to act as the spokesmen of a deputation from the meeting. The meeting of the City Council yesterday to receive the deputation was attended by the Mayor (Mr 11. L. Tapley, M.P.), and Crs Hayward, Wilson, Hancock, Shacklock, Taverner, Begg, Scott, Larnach, Clark, and Sincock.

The deputation consisted of some 50 or CO well-known citizens, and included h large proportion of ladies. The Mayor stated that some days ago had been urged to call a special meeting of the council, so that the views of the citizens might be placed before it on the acquisition of the Art Gallery at Logan Park as a permanent Art Gallery for the

As the tenders for the building closed on the 28th inst., it was essential that the deputation should be heard before that date, so that the council might consider and take action. He had therefore called that meeting together. About an hour previously one of our best known citizens, a gentleman always generous and publicspirited, had come to see him, and told him that it was the desire of his wife and himself to present to the city the Art Gallery which at present existed on Logan Park.—(Loud applause.) The donor had asked him not to divulge his name in the meantime, but they did very deeply appreciate the generous offer that had been made, and that he had in front of him in writing. That would provide the city without cost with a most desirable Art Gallery. He thought that might somewhat alter the position. At the request of the Mayor, the Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) read a letter received from a representative meeting ot sports bodies conveying its decision on the question of the retention of the Art Gallery and Festival Hall at Logan Park. The sports bodies reaffirmed their resolution strongly opposing the retention ot any of the present building, with the exception of the Art Gallery, and then only if required for sports purposes. They were influenced in this decision by the fact of the original understanding that the park would be used exclusively by sports bodies. , . Mr Lewin further reported that a message had been recevied from the registrar of the University that afternoon statin" that a special committee ot the university Council had met that afternoon with regard to Logan Park, and had resolved to notify the City Council that in view of the fact that this committee found that the grand stand was not satisfactory for the use of the University, they intended to recommend the Otago University Council to withdraw the off er made to the City Council to give up the Art Gallery, as it might prove that the gallery could be altered to ser\e as a grand stand. The council agreed to hear the deputation.

Sir Lindo Ferguson said he was not speaking as president of the Art Gallery, but as the representative of a meeting at which he had not been present. He felt the honour greatly, but lie wished that Dr Merrington had been chosen instead. He read the motion quoted above sent forward from the meeting of the previous day. They would remember, he said, the circumstances under which the city took over the present gallery. The collection grew until it had to be housed in a special building. TTie citizens erected the building, and the Art Gallery Society held it in trust for the city. The collection continued to grow, and they found they were compelled to extend the pictures to the hall which they had been letting to obtain revenue. The City Council agreed to assist, and had accepted the trusteeship of the building. It was impossible to hang the very valuable pictures they had recently acquired from the Exhibition collection in the present building, and an expenditure of probably £7OOO would be required to remodel the building. Even then the building would not be satisfactory. An art gallery must be so constructed that they could' get long-distance views through archways. There was no possibility of getting such effects in a patchwork building. Moreover, the extension of the building would involve destroying the green patch alongside, which was one of the amenities of the city. The present building was cold, dusty, and unsuitable. On the other hand, the building on Logan Park was eminently suitable from every point of view. The position, especially from the point of view of lighting, <vas a particularly good one. The attendance of people during the Exhibition proved that the distance was not too great if people had a sufficient inducement. From the point of view of finance if they retained the old building the council would require to spend a large sum of money making a patchwork job. The alternative, as his Worship had disclosed, was to receive a properly-designed gallery for nothing.— (Applause.) If the art collection was moved to Logan Park the present building could be let, and would bring in a revenue of probably £IOOO a year, which would go to the upkeep df the

Art Gallery.— (Applause.) He had been somewhat takes aback by the letter from the University Council. He had received a letter from the students saying they were willing to forego their claim to the Art Gallery provided it was to. be used us an Art Gallery. lie thought it was desecratiou to convert such a building either to dressing rooms or to the purposes of a grand stand. They eould build another building to the same plans, but neither the lighting nor the acoustics would be the same. When this building had proved itself so suitable they should keep it. It would be a crime to let an opportunity of the sort slip. If they did, it would be a question in a few years’ time of coming to the citizens for a loan of £20,000. and there would be all sorts of difficulties over the site. The meeting he represented was not out of sympathy with sport, but they thought the sports people were exceedingly greedy. There were ratepayers besides (lie footballers, and those who most keenly appreciated ar were the largest ratepayers. They paid the rates that kept the sports grounds going, and they might reasonably expect a far less dog-in-the-manger attitude from sports bodies. He wished strongly to urge the keeping of this building and to say that if they missed this opportunity they would not have a satisfactory art building in Dunedin for another 50 years.— (Applause.) Dr C. E. Hercus said that the financial difficulties had vanished in the light of the magnificent offer which the Mayor had made known to them.— (Applause.) He also was taken aback by the message from the University, but personally be could not believe that the University, which stood for culture in the community, could stand in the way of the acceptance of this offer. The question of the pictures they had stressed somewhat to the exclusion of arts and crafts. That side had to be developed.— (Applause.) It could not be developea in the present premises, but it could be at Logan Park. They looked to the City Council to give a lead as to what true recreation WuS. They said it was in the interests of recreation of bodv and mind of all citizens to have a good art gallery. A great number of citizens, their main ratepayers, were past taking part in sport. Were they not to be considered at all in recreation? They wished to train their children not only in material J ngs. but also in the love of the beautifi 1. They felt they could leave this matter safely in the hands of the council, trusting it to foster the big broad educational side of life. He asked them to picture Mr Tannock’s plan of a broad drive to the gallery which would be covered with Virginia creeper in the centre of a playing area that would not in any way interfere with it.

The Mayor said they had listened with the greatest interest to what the speakers had had to say The councillors, he thought, were largely sympathetic, but many negotiations took place when the park was handed over, and the sports bodies were involved in those negotiations. Two years ago they asked if all the buildings would be removed. It appeared then that there would be no question of any building remaining on the ground after the Exhibition, and some of them answered “Yes” to the sports people. They could not treat that pledge now as a scrap of paper. In view of further information he believed the sports bodies would further consider their decision. He thought the sports bodies would agree that an Art Gallery was a recreation. He had heard it rumoured that the sports bodies were going to withdraw their objection, and he had hoped to have an intimation to that effect that afternoon. He limped -the sports bodies would meet again and make it easier for the council to come to a decision. He hoped that the directors would hold over their decision until the City Council had come to a decision.

Sir Lindo B’erguson, in returning thanks for their reception, said it was clear the sports bodies were not going to get anything out of this, if the city did not get the Art Gallery the University would have it for a grand stand. They could not get it themselves, and would only; be preventing the city from having it. The Mayor pointed out that the meeting .as informal, insufficient notice having been given, but he suggested that the council discuss the matter and come to a decision which could be confirmed by a formal meeting.

Cr Begg: I think your friend buying the building settles the matter.

Cr MacManus: How are you going to get over the lease to the Harbour Board?

The Mayor: We must go to the Harbour Board. Cr Clark moved that the matter ha * referred to the committee which had been i appointed to have charge of it. The whole position was very complicated and the attitude of the University was obscure.

Cr Hayward seconded the motion. ’ The council resolved itself into committee in order to hear in full the letter offering to buy the gallery for the city. After a lengthy discussion in committea j the council adopted Cr Clark’s resolu- ' tion. and the committee will meet at 3.30 this afternoon to consider the position. 4