The Function of the PAS is to……

I referred above to Peter Tompa's peevish post about David Gill's report on an Italian exhibition of recovered art. It contains a comment that seems highlighting in its own right. He refers to:

Italy's inablity to reform its cultural bureaucracy, unwillingness to fund its cultural establishment adequately, and to adopt more rational laws-- like the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act --that would ensure that the State only keeps what it can reasonably be expected to take care of [...]

How odd, and there's us thinking the PAS was to encourage finders of archaeological objects to report them so that we can all share the knowledge they bring, but the Washington collector reckons the purpose of the system and the laws they result from is to "ensure that the State only keeps what it can be reasonably be expected to take care of" (by whom, I wonder). What does Mr Tompa think should happen to the rest? (As if I could not guess). So all you people in PAS, Mr Tompa is encouraging you to carry on keeping the excess finds out of "the State's" hands. Keep up the good work keeping all that burdensome stuff out of state hands - Washington is behind you all the way.