BAILLIE PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1409, 9 April 1912, Page 5

BAILLIE PICTURES.

A SPLENDID RESPONSE-ANTIW FATED.

MONEY COMING lift

With tho City Council's decision to do J nnlo JiIOOO if tlio citizens of Wellington ropond to tlio tuno of J-'oOOO for tho purchase of pictures from the Bajllio collection as a liuclous of a National Gallery, interest has been quickened considerably in Wellington. Tho proviso in ado by tho council is generally considered a very fair and those who have Iho task in'hand 01 raising the money havo been considerably heartened by the manner in which the public has received tho oiler. Bel'oro any great effort hns been made, Mr. 11. Gray (secretary of tho committco) has already received several contributions towards the fund, but they ore nothing compared with what ho expects. "It w'ill be a very poor look-out for art in Wellington," said Mr. Gray to a Dominion representative, "if wo miss this exceptional opportunity of securing a selection of pictures tho like of which aro not likely to bo placc-d within our reach again for a very long timo. When tho public ronlises that ivo aro being offered at our doors on reasonable terms tho work of artist's who oix:upy a foremost position in tho world of art nt Homo, and several younger artists of high promise, they can hardly- fail to respond generously. Wo intend now to enter upon a big campaign in tho collection of subscriptions. No stono is to bo left unturned. We are asking tho newspaper offices to keep lists, and aro going to approach overy institution that in any, way has the cause of art ut heart. One of our ideas is to approach tho schocds. Even if tho whole of tho primary schools subscribe enough to purchase only one picture, it will bo an achievement. Then we will ask tho authorities of tho primary schools to interest themselves in swelling tho funds. We also intend to approach tho Savage and Orphans' Clubs, which were primarily formed to encourago all forms of art, and later 011 wo' will have an 'Art Saturday,' .wlicn we ho'po to see all the pretty girls in tho town persuading the public to give their mite. At tho same timo, we have hopes that eono of our wealthier citizens will do tilicir part. I am pointimg out to business; men that a subscription to tho piircha.se ol' jood pictures is an investment likciv to produce tangiblo results. If Wellington had a good National Gallery it would induco thousands to prolong their stny ■in this city. Look what tho New South Wales National Gallery must mean to Sydney. Plenty of people who visit that city put in day after day inspecting tho art treasures there. So it will be in cosmopolitan Wellingtonpeople who now hurry through north, or south will have an inducement to stay here for a day or two if'it is only for tho pleasure and educative value of -rcwing a collection of pictures not to be teen elsewhere.

"As you know, we havo secured for the exhibition of the Baillio pictures, tlio Harbour Board's "U* shed—tho ona w;hich formed (at tho one end) tho en-, tranco to last year's Industrial Exhibition. It lias a splendid top light, ai'.d there is thero w-hat is so difficult to j.et anywhere else—plenty of space. The r<? is a gallery along tho western side, ar*} as it would not do to hang pictures undo; it, we propose to run battens along bet'.voen the supporting pillars, in order that .every advantage from tho light above n'ray be secured for the better display of the pictures. Wo propose to make a change for admittance, and. with that money Jiope to recoup Mr. BaiLlie lor the transit charges (some JC800) on the collection.

"There is 110 mistake about this being a magnificent chance—let Wellington Ecizo it with lioth- kinds. It .won't get such another in a lnixry."