Dominion Museum

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1922, Page 1

Dominion Museum

UNSUITABILITY OF THE BUILDING WELLINGTON, June 7. The old question as to the unsuitability of tho present Dominion Museum Imlidiug was discussed at the* meeting of the Board of Science and Art today. One speaker (Mr R. W. Holmes) expressed the opinion that if the name of the Museum was changed from the Dominion Museum to the Wellington Museum, the citizens of Wellington would take a keener interest in it, and would be more inclined to contribute towards its cost and upkeep, in the same way as the people of Auckland bad contributed towards their Museum, lie understood that quite recently the Auckland Museum had lteen subsidised lo the extent of some C 25,000 through local efforts. He suggested that the name of the Dominion Museum he changed to the Wellington Museum. The Hon G. M. Thomson said the feeling existed that, as. long as people felt that the Dominion Museum was purely a department of the Government, it was natural that citizens should he loath to subscribe to it. He did not think the name mattered much, as long as it was recognised .that the Museum was not a depa it incut of the Government. Mr* J. MacDonald (acting-director) remarked that one of the problems to ho considered in the construction of a new Mus'-umi was that of lighting. Exhaustive tests, extending.over .a period of 1500 days, had been carried out at the British Museum, whereby the. colours of specimens had been subjected to direct sunlight, diffused daylight, tlie arc-light, and ordinary incandescent lighting, and the result showed conclusively that colours faded under (.lie first three conditions, and remained practically constant under ordinary electric lighting. This proved that a modification in the construction ol future Museums might he regarded as advisable. That would mean, of course, the elimination of windows, which would afford increased accommodation for exhibits, and would also add to their better preservation.