HOPE AHEAD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 866, 12 July 1910, Page 4

HOPE AHEAD.

A NATIONAL ART GALLERY. THE POSITION TO DATE. Thoso eeriously interested in art, those who know of the striving of the enthusiastic few in Wellington to promote an art gtllery worthy of the name, and who know"' also how little has been achieved, are tailing the Prime Minister's recent speech at tho Art Club as a banner of hope. On Saturday evening Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Government would assist thu establishment of a national art gallery here, and further promised that this Government would provide a suitable site. Wellington has been at a disadvantage in this regard, even compared with tho other centres. Christchurch has Quite an interesting gallery, augmented most happily from the English collection at the New Zealand Kxhibition, and Auckland has a pretentious gallery containing many excellent pictures, mostly bequests and gifts of generous citizens. Wellington has only its much-lost "Leader," and a good l'Tuulc Urangwyn, and a few oti\er oil and water colours that are worth their places on the wall, but_ tho collection is comparatively insignificant, and is made more- so by the location of the gallery in Ballance Street. In view of the l'riine Minister's promise to start the national gallery ball rolling it is interesting to review what la done elsewheiu lor art.

What is Done Elsewhere. , The National Gallery of London receives from Parliament an annual grant of .£SOOO for tho purchase of pictures, which is snpplemuuted with special grants for special purchases. But other British galleries aro ulso fostered by the Government which in 1908 voted a sum of approximately for art. Coming nearer home the New South Wales Parliament votes .£2OOO annually for the purchase of pictures, and pays out m salaries uud maintenance another .£3OOO. The Melbourne gallery received annual grants varying in amount up to iioOUO until 1904, when Mr. Felton's bequest put tlie gallery trustees in possession of an assured iueoinu of JtetiSO u yuii. Tho State has since made annual grants ranging up to .£IOOO, these being distributed between the galleries of Ballnrat, Bfcudigo, Geelong, and Warrnambool. Thu gallery at Adelaide receives iSSO per annum from the Government, and the Perth gallery is paid .£SOO with which to make purchases. Though it has bewn suggested that the galleries of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin should receive annual grants, the Government has so far been deaf to the appeal, but art lovers—buoyant souls —have uuw something fairly tangible- to I'd upon, and are exceedingly glad. A Persistent Advocate. Mr. H. S. Wardell, the president or the New Zealand Academy "1 fine Arts, has been a most ardent advocate of a gallery adequate to the size and importance of the city. Only a few days ago—« hen tho national gallery idea was unborn — he wrote a strong letter to the Mavor on the subject. In this letter Mr. Wardull urged that the expenditure ol public mouoy would be justified. If authorities were wanted, he writes, for the expenditure of municipal funds tor art gallery purposes, he would refer to the examples of cities like Livuipool, Manchester, and Birmingham, and, .us a precedent nearer home, to the city of Auckland. The want uf n suitabSu gallery had been characterised as a stigma on the city, as showing a want of interest in that which, while providing an intellectual pleasure, was calculated to educate and improve the artistic taste of the community. The corpuration had its recognition of its duty in relation to the aesthetic side of life by providing for the gratification of Hie sens? ol music, and had provided an otgan, organist, and concert chamber. lie asked ior a like recognition of its duty iu respect of another branch of fine art.

"That a new and properly constructed public gallery is needed," continues th 6 letter, is generally admitted. The sneers habitually thrown by the public press at tho present gallery, although aimed at the academy, rebound on the city. It was erected by the academy for its ordinary exhibitions, and, while suitable for that purpose : is admittedly not adapted for a permanent public art gallery. The ground attached to it is too limited for any useful addition, even if the academy had the necessary funds." The writer then pointed out that the value of the collection, now comprising thirty-five oil and twenty-five water-col-our pictures, worth about £3000, would be materially increased by donations from the public if the public character of the gallery were clearly established. Then there was the question of damage to pictures arising out of tho necessity for removing them to make room for the periodical exhibitions. Should the permission freely granted by the Railway Department to store the pictures in tho strong room of its office be withdrawn, the risk would be seriously increased.

Mr. Wardell Interviewed. "Of course, I am naturally overjoyed with the clearly-expressed intention " of the Government as voiced by the Prime Minister," said Jlr. Wardell when seen by a Dominion representative. "I had hoped that at some time or other the Government and municipality might help us to a better gallon , , but a national gallery had not entered into the scope of my anticipations. If a national gallery could be cstat'Vhed it would have a wonderful influence on art, and, with the strength of the Government behind it, would, I am sure, induce a large number of people to contribute. "So far Sir Joseph has said that the . Government will find a site for the gallery. If the Government gives the land, I think that the municipality, aided by the citizens, should erect the gallery." The position of the New Zealand Academy, should the national gallery take form, was simple. At present the academy, which is governed by a council, has no power to sell its property, but authority to do so could be obtained, in which case there would be a sum of money for the purchase of pictures.

Miss D. K. Richmond's Opinion. Miss D. K. Kichmond, interviewed by o representative of 'J. he Dominion, was very g.ad to hear of Sir Joseph Ward's promise, and she thought it would be a good, things' il Wellington people uij their share towards getting an art gallery tor the city. Tho academy had i: ne all it could by getting pictures and some place to Keep tueui in. It couid no more. It hau asked for a grant :. ~ the Government, not only for \\c..:>i;.vton, but the other cities, though IJunsdin, Chrisfccliurch aud Auckland ;ui have galleries. Dunedin has a beautiiul gallery, as the result of efforts made by the women among whom Lady M'Lean took a prominent part. There they have a room for tile permanent collection, and another for exhibitions, which is also let for social purposes. The Wellington Academy was built for exhibitions, aud used to be let for social and other purposes, till the permanent collection had to bo housed, and then tho building \rns devoted to these pictures, and the academy employed a caretaker on two days in the week to keep tho gallery open. When there is an. exhibition tho pictures have to be moved nt great risk to mnke way for the exhibits. The academy would be very thankful when Wellington was provided with a fine art gallery in a good position, which could bo open all day long aud every day.