WAR MUSEUM

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17471, 3 June 1922, Page 9

WAR MUSEUM

TRANSFER TO IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. SIR JAMES ALLEN PROTESTS. v jj Cable—Press Association— Copytigtht.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received June 2nd, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. Sir James Allen is vigorously protesting against the proposal by the British Government to transfer the Imperial "War Museum from the Crystal Palaco to the Imperial Institute, thereby limiting the space in which is displayed exhibits representing the products, manufactures, and resources of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Crown colonies, and forming the principal attractions to the Imperial Institute., . . ' Sir James Allen, interviewed by the Australian Press Association, said ho ! had received a letter from Mr Winston Churchill notifying that the Cabinet had agreed that the War Museum should be transferred to tho Imperial Institute, subject to the consent of the Dominions. The British Government was willing to contribute £SOOO in addition to the £IO,OOO already payable by the British Government supplementary to tho £30,000 which the Dominions and Crown colonies had agreed to contribute annually. Sir James Allen wrote to Mr Churchill as follows: "I think it on!y'right to tell you, on behalf of my Government, that I cannot agree to the Imperial Institute being used for the purposes of a War Museum. If the proposal is persisted in, I shall deem it my duty to recommend that no further contributions towards tho [lmperial Institute should bo made by jNow Zealand." Sir James Allen states that some overseas Governments seemed under the impression that the British Government's offer of £SOOO additional would be in reduction of the joint contribution of £30,000, but, as a matter of fact, they would still be liable for the iutt contribution, while the space for overseas exhibits at the Jmperial Institute would be restricted, and the purpose of tho Imperial Institute largely nulliried by the introduction of a class of exhibits which was alien to the purpose for which the Institute was established.