Notebook
T suppose that there is no chance of stop- -L ping the extension to the National Gallery? Judging from experience of new buildings since the war it will be hideous. It may result in some pictures being hauled out of cellars, once again to enjoy the light of day. But their places will rapidly be fill- ed. The squirrel mania of gallery boards and directors rages more fiercely than ever. No stamp collector was ever more avid for complete sets; no miser more gloating over his hoard. (How many Stanley Spencers have never been taken out of the cases Which are their graves?) There must come a time when even in the eyes of prestige- seekers and researchers galleries are big enough. In my view the National Gallery, the Tate and the Louvre have long passed it. I suggest that governments get together to declared a moratorium on the tax conces- sions on pictures, furniture, etc. The situa- tion is now ludicrous with dozens of American foundations spending millions of dollars every year in the market. The auc- tioneers gain, but the prices are absurd and a does art no good. • Such subsidies and tax concessions as we can afford should go to preserve buildings and their contents. That might help to prevent buildings being torn down by public authorities and speculators, and the contents being dispersed. As for the Countryside,, its main enemies arenow governments and local councils covering it with concrete. The profligacy of such bodies in the use of land for roads and housing can be seen on the outskirts of every town. In every village urban trappings Proliferate. Orkney villages are made hideous by sodium lighting. Kerbs, 'land- scaping, and public 'toilets' are the trade- Mark of the planner. They may well be Popular. Which shows that we have become a suburban race. If so we should desist from sentimentality about our heritage and the beauty of 'wet-lands' and artificially main- tained 'wildernesses'.
an an active supporter of universities. I . wish however that they would stop call- ing themselves 'centres of excellence'. They are excellent in some ways. But it is for Others to say so. In a few ways they are not SO excellent. The behaviour of some of their students has by no means always been ex- cellent. Their performance is not uniform. Above all they should ask themselves Whether they fulfil one of their main func- tions excellently. That function is to turn 9uut citizens capable of good and unselfish eigment. Do we get from the universities a civilised and public-spirited body of citizens bent on seeing that the country is well run for the common good? Universities sometimes complain that they have been harshly treated and subjected to short- sighted economies which may do lasting harm. Who inflicted these enormities — if they are enormities? Their own graduates. The politicians and bureaucrats of whom they are apt to complain are their own pro- ducts.
The old-fashioned virtues so much
praised, especially by Mrs Thatcher, have not got much support from the top people. The gigantic Civil List is increased by 12 per cent in addition to the untaxed fortune of the Crown and the free services it enjoys. Judges and higher bureaucrats and chairmen of nationalised industries get in- creases above the inflation rate. Admiral Sir John Teacher takes £435,000 for 96 days' apparently ineffectual work with Playboy and goes off to another well-paid job carry- ing his admiral's pension with him. The Victorian virtues are strictly for the lower orders.
Tf restraint is needed, how about starting
with our leaders. What has become of the duty to show an example, give a lead, etc? What has become of the Golden Rule, of patriotism? of the obligation of officers? indeed of equal sauce for the goose and the gander? Do not let us be told that there are few people at the top so it doesn't matter what we pay them. There are few Grimonds but no one suggests that they should be ex- empt from the morality applicable to the numerous Smiths. Nor am I impressed by the argument that we must pay these high rates to get good people. Judges may have be paid over the normal because barristers' fees are extortionate, but that is a reason for reducing legal fees. In any case it hardly applies to the Crown and civil servants. If the rule at the top is that you are entitled to what you think your talents can extort, then it must apply down the line. It is of course for the Playboy shareholders to consider the Admiral's salary, but at any rate don't let us have lectures from the bosses about the beauty of restraint and regard for the country's welfare. I am often amazed that the trade unions don't demand even more for themselves and the members of their unions. If the chairman of the Water Coun- cil is given 15 per cent on a large salary, why should his workers take less on a smaller wage? The answer is that, unlike some of the bosses, the trade unions leaders would be ashamed to take £435,000 for themselves. A further anomaly is that while old age pensioners are penalised if they work, public service pensioners are not. If the old-fashioned virtues are not flourishing, at least the old-fashioned vice of hypocrisy is in fine fettle. If the Alliance must have an incomes policy it should be a discriminatory one — Parcere subjectis et debellare superbos.
-E conomy is the watchword of the Gov-
ernment. When the 1982-83 work on refurbishing the Houses of Parliament buildings is complete it will have cost over £14 million.
rrhe British people will not easily 'for- ' 1. give' ... 'forget' ... 'are interested in the future, not the past'. These phrases have popped up again on the lips of politi- cians pontificating about the Falklands. The British are rather good at forgiving. It is politicians who hug their hates. It is the politicians who will not have statues or even busts put up to Ramsay MacDonald, Baldwin or Chamberlain in the Palace of Westminster. Three of the most notable statesmen of my lifetime still go uncom- memorated while many a safely obscure nonentity fills a niche. The British forget all too quickly. Again, it is politicians who are always talking of the future. They find it much easier to handle than the awkward, intractable, and all-too-present present. As the general election approaches we are in for a great feast of futurism, in which I hope to take part. Thank goodness I do not have to deal with the present. At this mo- ment you would think that there would be dancing in the streets lubricated by free wine from the Treasury. Are not two great bugbears laid low in the dust — too high a pound and high oil prices?
rrhis brings me to this week's offer. We 1. are told that by taking lower wages the workers will increase employment. We are told, too, that it is only by becoming leaner and fitter that companies can survive in a competitive world. Here again, should not a lead come from the top? A bottle of English sherry to the three public com- panies whose letters are first opened at Doughty Street showing that for three years their directors have had no increase in salary.
Jo Gnmond
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