TAXING ART GALLERIES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 4

TAXING ART GALLERIES.

EXEMPTION FROM RATING ALLEGED. The question of the charging of rates on public art galleries was raised at last night's annual meeting of tlio Now Zealand Academy of Fine Arts by Mr. T. Lindsay lluick, who pointed out that tlio sum of £29 18s. Gd. had been paid in rates during tho year. Ho asked whether tlio City Council could not bo approached with a view to having theso rates remitted, as the academy was all institution for tlio public benefit. Tho president (Mr. H. M. Goro) said that tho City Council had previously beon approached, but had been found that tho council had 110 power in law to remit tho rates. Tho council, however, agreed to grant tlio academy a yearly vote of £50, which it was considered would more than cover tlio amount duo in any year. When thte Baillie oolloction was in Wellington, the council had mado a special grant of £1000, and had therefore temporarily withdrawn its annual payment of £50. Mr. Buick pointed out that tlioro was a Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill now beforo tho House, and suggested that tho academy should advocate tho inclusion of a clauso exempting public art galleries from taxation.