GOVERNOR HOBSON

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 15

GOVERNOR HOBSON

PAINTING ON, LOAN

REQUESTS FOR ;.::v.;RETURN^ ; '

MATTER RAISED IN HOUSE

;The National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill.was passed.in the House of .Representatives.! yesterday afternoon.' :

During the: Committee 'stage, , the Minister of .Internal Affail's (the Hon. W. E. Parry) said he.agreed that pro-' Vision: should be made for a Maori representative on the board of trustees, arid the Bill was amended .accordingly. ;;The Hon. W. E. Barnard- (Government; Napier) drew attention: to the provision', to lend works of art to the art gallery, and said he hoped that the Minister would see .that such loans werje returned. A painting of Governor. Hobson had been lent from Parliament Buildings. nearly three years ago, and despite repeated; requests/ it had not been returned. ; The picture-was lent for: the purposes : of ;;the /Waitahgi; "celebrations, :and:was how Hanging on the walls', of, a house' at Waltangi,: and recent letters asking for its return had not;even been replied to; He hoped that nothing of;the kind -would happen ■in"-futU're.-.::"'-';V-::-' : ',-" -:;': '"''V-i-'^ ■':-' -:■

<: The Minister said • that, the' property of Parliament ,would remain where it was.--,;;"' v ;;;,■■:,;-:-,.;, •, : -.:'-.■ ■~.. ■;•■;.. .■_• ■

The Minister of Education (the Hon. Pi "Fraser) thought the painting should be returned: ■' '<-■■ *■-• '■ v.-.:.': -';,v ■ ■■■.''■■■■'-. •■

i' The; Rti Hon. J. G; Coates (National, Kaipara) said he was 'not! sure ;that the,painting:Was "npt in its prbper'place at Waitarigi;.as .Governor Hobson was definitely co^ected, with, \Vaitangi; The; house ■?♦»*, of concrete, and the painting had attracted vcon'siderable- attention.■•.; An-effort was.being made to raise ;:the': painting copied.: : If the' committee, controlling Parliament ; Biiildings desired the"' re-i turn "of the ./painting, '-;. that Request would be respected,. b*ut vit was recognised that the picture was only on loan.