“IN A SAD STATE”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 4

“IN A SAD STATE”

Mr Shaw’s Impressions of Museum. DEPARTURE FOR THE NORTH.

“Your museum is a positive disgrace. It has manv rare and interesting things in it, but it has been allowed to get into a sad state. T believe it has no endowments. Why don’t you do something about it?” That was the first comment Mr George Bernard Shaw made 3'esterday afternoon after a brief tour of the city’s attractions when speaking to the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.). Mr Shaw held that he had not had a good enough acquaintance with the city to offer detailed comment, but he was very positive in his condemnation of the present condition of the Christchurch Museum. “I would not be surprised if the curator has to spend some of his time helping in the cleaning work,” he added. “They are in a better position in Auckland. Your Art Gallery, now, that is a‘decent thing. Why not the museum?” Crowd at the Station. When later Mr Shaw took his seat in the train ready for his departure for Lyttelton, a crowd insisted on his speaking. “Didn't you hear the broadcast?” he questioned. “ Yes,” came the reply, “ but we want some more We are relief workers.” “ I don’t like relief works,” said Mr Shaw. “ What you want is some real genuine productive work. You have a right to live like other people.” Replying to another question, Mr Shaw advised New Zealanders not to allow anyone to get into the Cabinet unless he had been to Russia and spent some months there. He said that the gathering on the railway station reminded him of Moscow, where he had made a thrilling speech under similar circumstances. The fact that no one could understand what he said hardly mattered. “How’s our beer?” was the next question from the crowd “ I don’t know. I don’t take it. A man ought to be happy in himself without having other people pour it into him.” “ Stay longer with us and give us more of your wisdom,” said anothei. “You have pretty well emptied me out,” he said, as the train pulled out of the platform.; The last seen in Christchurch of George Bernard Shaw was a cheerful, bewhiskered face, smiling benignly at the crowd *on the platform. Too Much Publicity. “ I wish,” said Mr Shaw, " that I could disguise myself as a plumber.” It was an informal remark—not intended for publication—and was made when Mr Shaw was discussing with the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) yesterday morning a tentative programme for the afternoon. In tht morning Mr Shaw was astir early, and after breakfast chatted to callers in the lounge of his hotel. Later he spent some time at work in his room and at 10 30 a.m. left for the M’Dougall Art Gallery. At the Art Gallery Mr Shaw was met by the Mayor and the Town Clerk, and Dr G. M. Lester, president of the Canterbury Society of Arts. Mr Shaw spent nearly an hour in the gallery, his tour of the building being facilitated by the fact that on Mondays the gallery is closed to the public. In the afternoon he visited the old Provincial Council Chambers, the Gardens and the Museum.