H.—2l.

Owing to the war it was considered too hazardous to return the pictures to the artists and owners overseas. By arrangement with the owners it was therefore decidcd to store the whole collection at the National Art Gallery for the duration of the war. The exhibition was reported upon fully in last year's annual report. To that report the following supplementary statement is added :— The total attendance was 57,150 including 9,100 children (under sixteen). A reception at the exhibition was held by the Management Committee on the evening of the 3rd May, about 500 people attending. A number of additional sales from the collection was made, bringing the total amount of sales to £6,361 4s. 6d. The Committee approached the Government with a suggestion that the amount of £900 advanced by the Government as a guarantee towards the preliminary expenses of the exhibition should be given to the Art Gallery for the purpose of purchasing the portrait of the late Earl Jellicoe and other works from the Centennial Collection. The Government agreed to this suggestion, and the Committee was able to purchase the portrait and two other works. These are referred to later in this report. With regard to the sum of £1,100 advanced by a number of citizens of Wellington, the Committee is glad to be able to report that owing to the financial success of the exhibition it was possible to return the whole of this sum to the guarantors. Two of the guarantors, Messrs. Charles Todd and B. Sutherland, Wellington, generously allowed their loans of £100 each to be retained by the Trustees of the Gallery for purchasing pictures. An interesting and valuable collection of British water-colours and a selection of British prints was purchased from the International Collection. The decision of the Board to continue the exhibition despite war conditions was fully justified, the result being most successful. Not only did the Board receive a substantial profit, but the general public, artists, and art students must have received great educational benefit from seeing the original works of the best of European artists. This satisfactory result was achieved through the very efficient manner in which Mrs. Murray Fuller carried out the work of organization and management entrusted to her. Other Exhibitions. A new collection of 150 facsimile colour reproductions of old masters and modern paintings was exhibited in the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts' Gallery during February. The exhibition was opened by Mr. A. D. Carbery, C.8.E., on 31st January, and remained open for one month. This is the third collection of reproductions obtained by the Committee with funds granted for the purpose by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Lectures on the pictures were given during the exhibition by Mrs. Murray Fuller, Mr. A. D. Carbery, and Mr. W. S. Wauchop. The exhibition and lectures were very well attended and created considerable interest. The thanks of the Committee are due to the lecturers for their work. We have to thank the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts for the free use of its gallery for this exhibition. Centennial Exhibition of New Zealand Art. Twenty-eight works from the National Collection were lent to the Government for the Centennial Exhibition of New Zealand Art, which toured New Zealand during 1940-41. The collection was exhibited in the Academy Gallery, National Art Gallery, during March, 1941, the exhibition being a most successful one. The Committee desires to record its appreciation of the Government's action in organizing this most interesting exhibition during the Centennial year. Educational Work. On two days of the week during school terms the Director of the Wellington Technical College has made available masters of the Art School, who conduct pupils of the secondary schools around the Gallery, giving talks on art appreciation. This arrangement has been in operation for two years. Last year nearly all the secondary schools in Wellington visited the classes. The Fifth and Sixth Standards of the primary schools did not attend this year owing to difficulties regarding time-tables. It is hoped that they will participate again next year. The Committee of Management is anxious to extend its educational work, but is handicapped by lack of funds. Most of the educational work is done voluntarily by members of the Management Committee, whose time is limited. There is a certain amount of money in hand from the Macarthy Trust for educational purposes. It is intended that this fund shall be built up so that an Educational Officer can be appointed, and it is hoped that such an appointment can be made in the near future. The Committee feels that the Gallery cannot fulfil properly its educational function without an Educational Officer being attached to the staff. During October and November, as part of its educational activities, the Committee sent the " Contrast " Collection of Reproductions to Masterton and Palmerston North for exhibition at these centres, the arrangements being made through the local bodies. Freight, packing, and insurance expenses were paid by the Committee of Management. Mr. A. D. Carbery visited both centres for the openings of the exhibition and gave lectures during the week-ends.

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