HOLLAND MEMORIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 8

HOLLAND MEMORIAL

Nude Figure Objected ~ To COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN I CONGREGATIONS [ Per Frefis Association. J AUCKLAND, Nov. 24. An objection to the nude figures in the H. E. Holland memorial which is now in the studio of the sculptor, Mr. R. O. Gross, has been made by the executive committee of the luckland Council of Christian Congrega’ions. The national executive of the New -Zealand Labour Party wh.ch commissioned the work has decided to lake m action regarding the protest. “All I need say at this stage is ih;.t not one member ot the Council of Christian Congregations has seen the memorial, which is still in my studio,” said Mr. Gross, when asked to comment on the council’s attitude. “In the circumstances, the protest ant n.marks made by ine council in its 'etter to the Auckland branch •■£ the Labour Party are unfair. 1 may add . that a member o« the Cab'net who has shown great interest in the work is the Hon. W. Nasri, who is a promin ent churchman. On the same day recently that Mr. Nash read the iessuns m an Auckland church, he spent the afternoon at my studio inspecting and discussing the ne? orial.” The letter of protest from the Council of Christian Congregations ' which was sent to the Auckland branch of the Labour Party is as fol- ' lows:“At a meeting of the executive com- ; mittee of the council, the attention of the committee was drawn to the mem- : orial to be erected in Wellington in honour of the late Mr. H. E. Holland. My committee is of opinion that the ’ sculptured figure of a man in the , nude and other figures representative of the emergence of the race from primeval times, is hardly worthy of ' your great leader and will give pain • and some offence to the Christian : community. We do respectfully suggest that the complete nudity of the [central figure is not necessary and is [contrary to the accepted canons of |good taste. We appreciate sincerely [the desire of the Labour Party to peripetuate the memory of the late Mr. ‘Holland and out only thought is to [suggest that the memorial should be 1 lone in which all sections of the com- • i munity could fittingly take-pleasure 1 and pride. Yours truly, L. B. Busfield, ' secretary.” In reference to this letter Mr. Gross has received the following from L*£r. 1 D. Wilson, national secretary of the 'New Zealand Labour Party, Welling- ; ton : I “It is quite evident that the Auckland Council of Christian Congrega- ' i lions is proposing to start an agitation, [with regard to the Holland memorial. 1 ’For your information I am enclosing ( | a copy of a letter which they sent to the Auckland branch. This matter j | was considered by a meeting of the ‘ I national executive when it was de- p Icided that apart from notifying you r of the protest, no action should be * [taken in the matter.” | s ■ Some time ago it was decided that j ( I the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, ' [should unveil the Holland memorial P

[on Easter Sunday, March 28. In the ™ memorial, now in its final stages, the J sculptor has sought to convey the aspirations of man beyond the mere maJterial. The memorial is designed to be viewed from a slope leading up to f j[it. It is marble and without considiering the question raised by the . [Auckland Council of Christian Congre- ' igations it is a strongly conceived and | artistically executed piece of work on [a grand scale.