ART IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 8

ART IN NEW ZEALAND

(To the Etntor.; Sir,—lt is indeed gratifying to', find that there are others in New Zealand who are alive to the fact that the indifference shown to the artists here must inevitably drive them from the country to a more appreciative sphere. Our loss is another's'gain, but can we as a young striving community afford i to lose the best? Are we to be brought to a common factor of a second-class mentality, for that must be the result of continual depletion in the ranks of our most cultured citizens. A recent visitor to these shores urged the people of New Zealand to "sell" to the world her uniquely beautiful scenery. In this commercial age when a country, like any business, must advertise to maintain her trade and position,- this urging to "sell," or as we more familiarly term it, advertise, is opportune and could be profited by. Now in what better manner could we call attention to ourselves than by

bringing before the notice of the world I the capabilities and achievements of our artists? It will be a sad error if examples of Miss Butler's exquisite work are not included in the coming exhibition "of New Zealand art in London. As your correspondent "Perplexed" has so well shown, the work of this accomplished sculptress received no stint of recognition in a land where beauty is valued. I would suggest'that the public be given an opportunity of viewing what is claimed to be representative of New Zealand art, before the collection is sent Home. Sad to say, Miss. Butler is not the only artist in our midst who is not granted appreciation. I have in my possession pictures that would grace any gallery painted by an "unknown" New Zealander. I sincerely hope that the correspondence regarding this lamentable state of affairs will bear fruit and afford us the opportunity of showing to the people overseas that we are capable of exporting beauty as well as butter.—l am,, etc., ELIZABETH CONNORS.

"As a reader of the 'Post' for a number of years" (writes "A Worker of New Zealand") "I am getting disgusted with listening and reading about the people in New Zealand that call themselves Communists. I myself dealt with them for a number of years and found out that they were nothing but trouble-makers. When. they get on a job they are not satisfied. So then they begin to preach about the Government. It does not matter what party is in power. Noneof them is any good in the eyes of the 'Reds' as they call themselves. Now as we have in New Zealand a Labour Government the Communists say it is not doing right. They want the little Government in New Zealand to go across and help the Spaniards in Spain. What next! I think it would be a good idea if the Labour Government mobilised all the •Reds' in New Zealand arid sent them off to Spain." ''