The Hutt News THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1928. DOMINION ART GALLERY & MUSEUM.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 22, 25 October 1928, Page 4

The Hutt News THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1928. DOMINION ART GALLERY & MUSEUM.

Despite the near approach of a general

election, the flood of eloquence let loose by the rival candidates, even the vastly difficult problems of the licensing issue, despite these and other questions of moment, the city of Wellington appears to be more concerned with her proposed Art Gallery and Museum than with any of the matters above mentioned. Wellington set out with a big heart to raise no less a sum than one hundred thousand pounds, the amount necessary to bring the extremely liberal donation from the Government up to a sum sufficient to erect an Art Gallery and a Museum worthy of the capital city and of the Dominion as a whole. Perhaps no more commanding site could be found than the one selected on what is known as Mt. Cook so that from the site, and consequently from the buildings when erected a commanding view

of the city and its glorious harbour mil be obtained. Thanks to the liberal donation from the Wellington City Council, the Art Soeioty, Harbour Board, and from many large hearted citizens, over eighty thousand pounds have been raised, but there still- remains in round figures seventeen thousand ~to be found. It is to find that last, and consequently most difficult section, that Lower Hutt, in common -with other boroughs adjacent to Wellington, has_ been asked to contribute towards the fund. Practically every householder of the borough has been circularized,, from our own Council office with a strong appeal from the Mayor (Mr. W. T. Strand), for support to this big scheme. Some adverse criticism has been levelled against this calling upon outside boroughs and also because some deem the scheme too ambitious, while others hold that, while the idea is an admirable one, the time is inopportune. Replying to the first objection—that if its being too ambitious

—it seems that those who hold this view are too '' local in their views. The scheme is for a "Dominion" Art Gali lery and Museum, and surely for so big an idea the scheme-is certainly not too ambitious and Wellington is, all will admit, the city most entitled to it as it is the capital city —as it is the chief trans-shipping port and occupies a position that is "Suprema a Situ" as its own motto has it. Regarding the point that the time is inopportune it seems that far from being so the time for the erection of such buildings is long overdue. Only think of the wretched building in which at present are housed objects rare and valuable, priceless relics of the early days of colonization and of Maori art and craft, a building in which nothing can be at all adequately displayed and one extremely liable to "destruction by fire. What a factor in education and refinement an Art Gallery can be, and is. We cannot have in our homes costly pictures by great artists, now can we, except by a travel all too costly for ninety-nine per cent of us, see the works of the great masters in Art Galleries abroad, so by all means let us bring to our very doors all that we can afford of art as an inspiration to our young people. These highly desirable features of a modern city will be as free to us of Lower-Hutt as they will be to those of Wellington. Old and young from the Valley will be able to draw as much learning and inspiration and pleasure as will those of the city. To us this appears a most worthy object and we commend the appeal of the Mayor. All can contribute in proportion to their means. Let none be afaid to give in large amount and none ashamed to give even his mite.