THE NEWTOWN MUSEUM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 3

THE NEWTOWN MUSEUM.

Silj—l cannot lieJp thinking tliat tlio Wellington City Council was ill-advised to adopt (by a narrow majority) Councillor Wright's amendment to fcho original resolution relative to the appointment ot n ourator to tho Noivtown iluseuin. Tlio original resolution provided for tlio submission, of ,tlto applications to tlio Advisory Committee for report and recommendation; tlio amendment elt'ectcd tlio attachment or elimination of that committee) leaving tlio selection of a curator solely in the hands of tho City ..Council. Considering tliat tho qualifications in the main aro of a more or less scientific character—qualifications which cannot properly be gauged by a body of laymen such as tho City Council, ajid that tho Advisory- Committee' consists of export men among whom is Professor Kirk, an eminent scientist,.- it is diiiicult to conccive the raison d!etro of Councillor .Wright's amendment, which was unfortunately passed by tho City Council. Kven city councillors are amenable to' personal prejudice, both for and against particular individuals, and it is ruimoured that already two councillors have promised to, support the applications of two particular aspirants for the which te' unfair, whereas no cliargo of impartiality could be laid against Professor ICirk, besides which he could by a viva voce examination of likely appointees easily differentiate between tho truo a>nd tho psoudosciejitist.—l am, tic., PJ3UCIVAL R. WADDY.