THE MASTERTON COMPETITIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10656, 11 June 1912, Page 5

THE MASTERTON COMPETITIONS.

PROPOSED ART EXHIBITION.

REQUEST FOR THE DREADNOUGHT PICTURE.

Mr G. R. Sykes, M.P., has addressed' the following communication to the Minister of Internail Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell):—

"Sir, — The Masterton Competitions Society are '-.holding' their Competitions on-the 9th, 10th, llth andiaih July, proxcimo. Included in the Competitions JiS an Exhibition Art Gallery. The Societjy is arranging for •the loan of certain, of the pictures recently purchased for the National Art 'Gallery, and is particularly desirous, of dhtaining the loan for those days of Wyllie's picture of the New Zealand Dreadnought, thatt was presented •to the (nation by the artist. The picture would he fully in&ured and taken. y ca're of. I know that in making this reqaiest I am opening up a big field, <as other .ceritres 'may desire to view <tihe picture. I venture to suggest, 'however, tJhalt as the picture was prcftented to the people of 'New Zealand, ■and ias it wifll, I believe;, tend more •t'baii) anything to ifaste'r in- our midst *the spirit of patriotism and pride of •(race, iit is therefore, proper that it should ibefore feeing placed in its periimaneint abode, fee sent to the< more important towns throughout the Dominion. I suggest >dso that during dtis exhibition a shil'hng voluntary sub<sqription should he taken for the pur'pose of presentilng to the. a,rt:lst, from the people of New Zealand, .some distinctive iSipGciimems of New Zealand Wative arts and crafts, as a. mark of ■our appreciation of the aioble sentiments that induced him to make up iso 'splendid a gift."