SYDNEY GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1614, 4 December 1912, Page 7

SYDNEY GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

FINAL PROTESTS. By Telecraph—Press Association— CopyriEht Sydney, December 3. The Commonwealth. Government ha 9 formally handed over Government, House to the State Government, which proposes to make a big demonstration when possession is taken. Petitions were presented in the Legislative Assembly and protests made against tho Government's proposals. Replying to a question whether the Government would allow the people to decide by referenda before finally deciding to desecrate the historic house, the Premier (Mr. M'Gowen) declared that tho Government had decided on,,a certain course and would take that course and accept the consequences.

HOW POSSESSION WILL BE TAKEN

EXAMPLE OF ABANDONED PALACES,

The details of the decision of the Cabinet in regard to the future utilisation of Government House were made available recently. The grounds are to be thrown open as a public park, and house and furniture will bo retained for some months in their present condition for public inspection. Ultimately the building is to.be made into a museum of applied art, that is decorative art as applied to industry. In the State Premier's memorandum setting out the Government intentions, it is stated that such a museum would be of great value from an educational point of view. "It is the rule/' the memorandum adds, "nearly all over the world that museums of art and picture galleries should be made out of abandoned palaces and aristocratic dwellings. It therefore could not be said that there was any incongruity in using Government House for such a purpose, as recently occurred in Canada, where one of the State Government Houses has been converted into a freight office for the Pacific Railway Company."

The memorandum goes on to state that steps towards the utilisation of the building are hampered by the delay of the Commonwealth in completing the final inventory of effects that have to be handed over, but in the meantime the grounds ore being prepared for a park, and special paths are.beiag made leading from the existing Botanic Gordons to the urn area.

Arrangements are to bo made for the holding of a great public demonstration when the Government formally takes possession of the House and grounds. The details of this display are set out as follows:—

! "A short speech will be delivered by the Premier, not raising any question of controversy, simply stating that it is the policy of the Government to secure this land for the people. He will then invite them to enter it with him, and survey their now possession. The area will be thrown open, and a procession formed, and everybody presont will be asked to walk in the new grounds. There mil bo sufficient police and othor attendants present to prevent any horseplay, should any disorderly-minded person seek to mar the proceedings. "It is most essential that this demonstration should bo numerically overwhelming. It will answer at once tho agu. tion which has been set going, or kep : going, within tlie last few weeks, and it will show that vast masses of tho jv pie aro entirely out of sympathy with that agitation. ' Every member of the party is requested to be present, and to uso his influence in securing as large an attendance of .solid Labour supporters as. possible. There is no doubt that -net the people see the new grounds they will so realise the great advantage that lias been secured for Sydney by their addition to tho public recrcation places that tin feeling will entirely change."