More Criticism Of Coins

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 3

More Criticism Of Coins

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 4.

The Parliamentary Under - Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Mr Muldoon, today described as incorrect a published report that Cabinet is unlikely to reconsider the design of the decimal coinage because this could upset the production timetable. “This report is incorrect. In point of fact the redesigning of some coins was under consideration some time prior to the publication of the designs which had been proposed to the Royal Mint. “The Mint has inf ormed the Government that new proposals can still be introduced without upsetting the produe-

tion timetable,” said Mr Muldoon.

“Unimaginative”

The designs—released unofficially to the public on Wednesday—were described by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Kirk, today, as unimaginative.

“It is dear from widelyexpressed opinions that the designs are regarded as being as untoiaginative as the Cabinet which approved them. “I am sure many people would agree that the least Cabinet should do is to reconsider the designs with a view to having something more suitable,” he said. Southern Cross

A former president of the Auckland Astronomical Society, Mr L. Warner, today added his name to those criticising the new designs. He said the four stars which were supposed to represent the Southern Cross on the one cent coin were astronomically incorrect. An important feature of the real Southern Cross was its asymmetry, he said. This asymmetry was demonstrated

correctly in the New Zealand ensign and is quite clear to anyone looking at the constellation on a clear night. The president of the Auckland society, Mr A. M. Partridge, confirmed Mr Warner’s observation and expressed doubts as to whether the Carter Observatory in Wellington could have been consulted about the designs. Difficult Art The way in which New Zealand had set about obtaining designs for her currency was a classical example of how not to get good coinage, said Mr Cecil Thomas, a wellknown English sculptor, who arrived to Auckland this morning.

The art of ooinmaMng was probably the most difficult to

the world. Its execution involved modelling and relief to 1000th of an inch, he said. “A person with the high degree of skill required to produce a good coin would be too busy to bother with a competition,” he said. “He would not want to be messed about by historians, politicians and other experts sitting to judgment on a highlyspecialised field of which they know little.” Instead, there should .be a direct commission of experts such as those in the Royal Mint in London, who designed and made coins daily. Given a list of suggestions drawn up by New Zealand historians and Maori Affairs experts, they would be able to produce designs fulfilling all requirements.