HL Deb 25 November 1919 vol 37 cc380-4

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY rose to call attention to the continued occupation of Exhibition Galleries in the British Museum by the clerks of the Registry of Friendly Societies and by other persons, and to ask for information as to the arrangements which can be made for the restoration of the Galleries to their proper use.

The most rev. Primate said: My Lords, this is a matter which I think is of real public importance. During the war the authorities of the British Museum co-operated with the utmost readiness in the desire expressed by the Government that the Galleries which were available for public purposes should be utilised for the staffs of those public offices which were called into existence or removed from their ordinary places. The two Galleries of special importance which were given over by the British Museum to the Office of Works for this purpose were the Gallery of Prints and Drawings, greatly frequented by the public and containing things of extreme interest and value, and the Gallery of Antiquities, especially Egyptian Antiquities, not sculpture but mummies. The very value of these articles made it necessary that they should be hidden away elsewhere for safety during the War, and these Galleries being empty we readily acceded to the request that they should be used for public services. Originally it was requested that we should allow the authorities of the Air Force to have some quarters there, but this was objected to on the ground that, being a combatant force, the Museum would be a legitimate object of attack. That proposal was withdrawn and the Galleries were occupied by the clerks of the Registry of Friendly Societies—about 120 young women—who are doing their work there, and no doubt doing it exceedingly well.

There was a most strenuous and imperative demand on the part of the public that these Galleries should be made available for the public as soon as possible. There are few things in the Museum which attract both students and public from all parts of the world more than the contents of the Gallery of Egyptian Antiquities. They are of priceless value and during the war were necessarily stored in places of safety underground. The Prints were not of the same antiquity but of the same general interest, and these, too, were stored away in safety.

Since the war ended we have made inquiries as to how soon we may expect to be able to admit the public to these Galleries in reply to their constant demand, and we were told by the First Commissioner of Works as long ago as November 15, 1918, immediately after the conclusion of the Armistice, that he was as anxious as any one to see the Museum completely restored as soon as possible. As nothing was done the Trustees called attention by correspondence to this reply, and were told on January 20 that everything possible would be done to meet their wishes. Again nothing whatever occurred, and the Galleries continued to be occupied by the estimable clerks doing their work there day by day. When May came an announcement was made that in releasing buildings priority would be given to hotels and museums. Museums and galleries were therefore pat in the front line. This sounded satisfactory, and when the question was raised shortly afterwards in this House an answer was given that steps were in progress, and that it should be possible to give possession of the occupied premises at an early date.

Nothing whatever happened. The Galleries remained in occupancy, and when students from abroad or from this country or the general public interested in the matter, and above all soldiers from the Colonies and America, who were most anxious to see the British Museum, came there, they were told that the Galleries were closed and that the objects which they came to see were not available, having had to be packed and stored elsewhere. When October came we wrote again reiterating our request and the pledges which had already been given. Up to this time we have received no reply whatever to that communication. No one can feel more strongly than I do the proprietry of using great Galleries like these during the war for the purpose of housing large numbers of persons for whom accommodation was not available elsewhere. That necessity, however, has now passed, and it does seem almost inexcusable that no steps have been taken to re-admit the public to these Galleries of Prints and Drawings, and to the Egyptian Galleries.

We have now reached a point in which we feel that we have a right to call public attention to this matter. It does not seem, if one looks at it from outside, that the clerks of the Registry of Friendly Societies are a body for which it should be impossible to find other accommodation. A whole year having passed, and nothing having been done, it does seem that we are entitled to call attention again to the matter and to ask that some reply may be given which will enable the Trustees to meet the criticism which is not unnaturally constantly being levelled against them, and to give to the public the opportunity which the public should have of seeing the treasures which are in their keeping. It is not the fault of the Trustees, for they have reiterated their demands, and the Government after giving a courteous reply have taken no steps whatever. I hope that the noble Lord who will reply for the Government will be able to tell us that steps are really being taken which will enable us again to open the galleries to the public. I am certain that the matter is one of wide interest to the public. I know how great is the disappointment which is inflicted upon those who expect to find what they look for in the British Museum. I understand that a similar question arises in regard to other public buildings, but they are not covered by this Question of which I have given notice, and to which we hope to-night to receive a more favourable answer than before.

LORD STANMORE

My Lords, there are two bodies at present who are occupying parts of the Galleries of the British Museum. One of these is the Medical Research committee of the War Office, who occupy at present about three-fourths of the space in the sub-ground floor of the Extension Building—a total area of about twenty thousand square feet. I am glad to be able to tell the most rev. Primate that in this case other accommodation has recently been found, and this Department will be moved as soon as the new premises are ready for occupation, which I expect will be about the end of January. In the case of the Registry of Friendly Societies, who occupy the top floor of the Extension Building, which includes part of the Prints and Drawings Galleries, I regret to say that at present it has been found quite impossible to find any accommodation elsewhere for so large a body of clerks. Every effort has been made and is now being made to find such a building. It is not possible for them to return to their own offices, as these have been requisitioned for the use of the Headquarters staff of the Ministry of Pensions. Of course they will return there in due time, but so far it has not been possible to arrange it. I should like to add that the effects of the prisoners of war, which were stored in a part of the basement, were removed in September last.

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The noble Lord has given an answer which relates to certain places in the basements, which have nothing whatever to do with the Galleries. No single square foot of the Galleries has been opened to the public which was closed during the war. The return of the storage space in the cellars, to which the noble Lord refers, is no doubt to our advantage, but the public grievance relates to ale Galleries, and as to the Galleries I gather that he can hold out no hope that they will be restored until the Registry of Friendly Societies is able to return to its own offices. The Ministry of Pensions is likely to last for a great many years, and therefore apparently both the Egyptian Galleries and the Galleries of Prints and Drawings may not be available until years have passed. I do not think the position is one which the public will think to be very satisfactory.

House adjourned at half-past six o'clock.