THE GREY COLLECTION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 2

THE GREY COLLECTION.

PBOPOSAL TOE EXCHANGE.

The proposal for the exchange of South African manuscripts in the Grey collection at the Auckland PublicLibrary for New Zealand material in' South Africa, was the subject of a statement this week by the Hon. George. Fowlds. The Xev« Zealand material camo into the possession of the Cape Town Library authorities in 1886, and negotiations between the New Zealand Government and the Cape Government, with a view to exchange, have been in progress since 1906, when 3lr Fowlds, while in South Africa, endea- j vourcd to enter into an agreement, it' is understood that in the next session of the Union Parliament legislation to authorise the exchange will be brought: down by the South African Govern-! ment.

Mr fowlds said that Sir George Grey, in the'preface to one of his books, expressed the hope that tho South African and the Auckland collections might be exchanged.' thus securing to thfe. two countries those things of special interest- to ettfh. Continuing Mr Fowlds said that when he visited South Africa in 190G lie examined the collection of Maori manuscripts which forms part- of the Grey collection Held there. Archdeacon 'Williams, of Gisborne, about tho same time also visited Capo Town and examined tho collection, and-as a result, tliere was brought down in the Union Parliament a Bill having for its- object the sanctioning of the exchange. However, mainly due to the efforts of Baron de Villiers, who was opnosed to the exchange, the Bill was thrown out Mr'Fowlds said he had visited South Africa again in 1910 as the New Zealand Government's representative at. the opening •of the Union Parliament, and. while there, made further representations regarding the collection, this time being strengthened by a. strong recommendation from the Government in favour of the exchange. Dming the first session of the Cape Parliament in 1911, a promise was. made that legislation would be brought down authorising the Cape Library trustees to make the exchange. So far as he knew > this legislation had not been passed, but apparently a move in this direction was auoiit to be made. Then the exchange would- be merely a matter of negotiation between- the Auckland City Council and the Cape Town Library trustees. "Mr Fowlds said there was no doubt of the value to New Zealand.of the Maori manuscripts held in Cape Town.