Vew from the chair: Speeches of Richard WL Austin

one of great concern. And when the Police Commissioner said, 'There is no vice in the Valley', it translated as 'Every second house is a moison de tolerance'. Tony Fitzgerald put a stop to all that. To be politically correct today, you not only have to say what you mean, but mean what you say. I sometimes wonder if this is really a good thing. As Oscar Wilde put it, 'a man who persists in calling a spade a spade is only fit to use one'. And finally, I had to learn a new dress code. I soon discovered that men who wore white shoes were entitled to a range of goods and services denied to those whose shoes were black or brown. It was all very confusing and I was relieved when I finally gained admission to the distinguished order of mateship. The Gallery produced its own terrors. When I took advice from some of my predecessors, one told me that the Trustees were so recalcitrant that he had to throw the agenda book at them to keep order; another denied this and said he had never seen an agenda book. I discovered that there was, in fact, an agenda book-and very well produced it was-and that the Board was not recalcitrant after all. I never had to throw anything at anybody and my eight years as primus inter pares were very happy ones. They were also, I believe, very constructive ones. The Gallery achieved much of what we set out to achieve-an accepted position in both the national and international art scenes, a close relationship with Japan and other Asian countries and an atmosphere newly redolent of warmth and welcome. That we were equally supported in our endeavours by two Governments with very different ideologies is proof, I think, that we remained at all times apoJitical and that is as it should be. I have enjoyed working with all of you and the staff as well, and I am glad that I have been asked to continue as an adviser on Asian art and as a member of the Foundation. In that way, neither I nor Arija, who has stood beside me throughout the whole of the eight years, will lose touch with what, for both of us, has been an important aspect of our lives. I go as Chairman, happy in the knowledge that my successor will carry on the good work equally well, or better. And so, instead of a final peroration, let me just repeat some simple words of Tennyson, slightly amended to suit the circumstances: Twilight and evening bell And after that the dark And may there be no sadness of farewell When I depart. 175