THE FAT THINGS OF AN EXHIBITION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3967, 25 June 1887, Page 3

THE FAT THINGS OF AN EXHIBITION.

— • — On 31st ult. tho London correspondent of the Age wired a3 follows : — Much dissatisfaction prevails amongst official representatives of the colonies in connection with statements which have obtained currency concerning the method to be adopted in establishing the council of the Imperial Institute. It is stated that the gentleman to be selected as tho representatives of tho colonies will only in tho most nominal sense be members of tho council, for they will be persons so situated either in regard to distance or otherwise as to be quite unable to attend te the duties of the position. The management of the Institute will, it is stated, by this moans fall almost exclusively into the hands of the persons designated the " South Kensington Gang," against whom serious charges of corruption have been laid in connection with the management of the Colonial and Indian and other recent Exhibitions. Regarding the3e charges of corruption the Daily Chronicle, of May 2nd, says : — The Secretary to the Royal Commission was " lent " by the Science and Art Department. But he was allowed to retain his official salary, £950 a j-ear in that department all tho timo he was away from hiß duty. Therefore, whilst he was drawing £950 for doing no work in the Kensington Musoum, he also got £500 for doing work at the exhibition. We further find a charge of £420 set down in the exhibition accounts, which is described as " paymont by arrangement with the Treasury for additional services by certain of the staff at South Kensington Museum, in consequence of the absence from duty of the Secretary to the Royal Commission. Surely this calls for explanation. Are wo to suppose that when tho Director of the

South Kensington Museum is officially eliminated, his work can be dono by somobody else for £420 1 If that be bo, it would be well to know why he is paid £950 a year for his aervicos. The matter apparently Btands thuß : The Indian and Colonial Exhibition paid the Science and Art Department £420 in order to enable Sir P. Cuuliffe Owen to earn two salaries — first, his salary (if £940 in the department from which he was absent ; second his " honorarium " of £500 from the exhibition to which he transferred his services.