N.Z. INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2372, 30 January 1915, Page 8

N.Z. INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING CONDITION OF THE LIBRARY THE LACK OF FUNDS The annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute was held last night. Professor C. Chilton (president) was in the chair, and there were also present: Professor T. H. Easterfield, Professor H. B. Kirk, Mr. D. Petrie, Professor U. Coleridge Farr, Mr. R. Speight, Professor Marshall, Mr. ■G. M. Thomson, Mr. H. Hill, Dr. L. Cockayne, Mr. K. Wilson, Dr. H. R. Hatherley, Mr. C. A. Ewen, Mr. A. H. Turnbull, Dr J. Allan Thomson, Mr. B. C. Aston, and Professor Seager. The institute expressed appreciation of the work of Mr. James Stewart, C.E., of Auckland, and regret at his death. A vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs. Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair for legal services gratuitously rendered in connection with the Hector Memorial. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. Professor Chilton addressed the board at some leugtli. "Early last year," he said, "we were able to join our scientific brethren of Australia in rejoicing at tho safe return from the Antarctic continent of Dr. Mawson —now Sir Douglas Mawson —and his companions, aud later on we had the pleasure of hearing from his own lips an account of the splendid results achieved, notwithstanding the extraordinary difficulties and dangers that were met with, and of getting a vivid and accurate idea of life in the Antarctic from the exceptionally beautiful and varied series of pictures that he was able to display. Judging from what I have seen of some of his collections, I feel confident that the biological results of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition will equal, if they do not sur-; pass, those ot any other Antarctic Expedition in their interest and completeness. I trust that Sir Douglas Maw-, 'son's endeavour to obtain sufficient funds for the adequate publication of the results of 'his researches will soon be rewarded with success. • "But from-Australia there comes also cause for sorrowful condolence. Some two or three months ago the Commonwealth Federal investigation steamer Ericeavour, which has done so much good work in bathymetrical and biological work round tho coasts of Australia, was sent on a missioii to Macquarie Island, £riU has not since been beard of, and there seems little doubt that she has been lost with her crew and scientific staff—another sacrifice to the claims of science and the destructive seas of 6ub-Antarctic regions. "Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition has gone to the Far South in its adventurous effort to cross the Antarctic continent from tho shores of the Weddell Sea to those of the Ross Sea, and later on we shall be anxiously looking for news of the welfare of the leader and of those Avho are with him.

"It gives me great pleasure to an. nounce that tho long expected illustrations to Mr. Checsemau's "Manual of tho New Zealand Flora" have been recently published in two handsome and valuable quarto volumes. The work has Seen in preparation for several yoars_; it has cost much, both in human exertion and in money, and the result is highly creditablo both to the author and to the Dominion. We can hfeartily congratulate Mr. Cheeseman ' on TSre publication of another noteworthy contribution to tho botany of New Zetland. Library and Museum. "Last year 1 endeavoured to draw attention to the condition of our library, and of the collections housed in the Dominion Museum. I regret to say that things are pretty much in the same unsatisfactory condition still. The museum is still standing in the samo place, and. though one or two minor alterations have been effected to make it more habitable,' there has been no real improvement, and tho valued collections are no sa'fer from destruction than they were when I addressed you on the subject last year. The Science and Art Board appointed by tne Act of 1913 was constituted in May, 191-1, by the appointment of its members, and it is gratifying to know that in addition to tho president of the institute, who is a member ex officio, two other members of this board have been, appointed to the Science and Art Board. As yot. however,, the board has not been called together, and no steps have been taken to carry out the work for which it was established. "Under the Science and Art Act of 1913, provision, is mado for the formation of a Dominion Library, and proposals were made at your last annual meeting by which, under proper conditions and safeguards, the institute might be willing to allow its library to form a part of this Dominion Library. Further and more detailed suggestions in the samo direction will be laid before you at this meeting, and will require'your earnest and careful consideration.

"The genuine, worker in'any department of knowledge,'in science, history, economics, or literature, requires books, not because of any pride he. may take in their possession, but for the use he can make of them. Provided he can have ready ■ access to them, and make full use of the information contained in them, it is a; matter of indifference to him whether they, are owned by himself ■ or by someone else: Similarly, as the institute is never likely to want to sell its library, it does not matter whether the books legally belong to the institute or to tho Dominion Library —all that is necessary is that the working members shall be allowed to"' use the works with- no restrictions other than those that are absolutely necessary for the .safety-.of the volumes, and for securing similar privileges to other members. It is important that we 6hould definitely make up our minds as' to the ■ kind of library we want. It was pointed out clearly by one of cur members at a meeting of the Standing Committee, that what we require is a library that will be used for the purposes of Teseareh; a library, therefore, partaking largely of tho character of what is generally known as a reference library, and as unlike tho ordinary circulating library as possible, and yet if the library is to be of any real use, there must bo adequate provision for sending its volumes freely to those who wish to make use of thorn. The Building Fetish. "Much lias been 6aid about the erection of a suitable "building in which tbc library could be safely housed. Tho difficulty of providing tlie funds that were deemed to be necessary for this purpose is the chief cause of our want of progress in this matter in the past, and during the present European crisis, while all our available, resources must necessarily be used in the lirsfc place for securing the maintenance and ultimate victory of the Empire in its great struggle, it is not to be expected that funds can be provided for a costly library building. "But is such a building necessary at all? Let us consider what wo mean by a library—a research library. Such a library consists of books or papers, printed or written, containing information of value. The building is 110 essential part of the library, and has 110 value or interest to the investigator apart from the fact that it is the place where he can find the bnoks containing the information he wants. Naturally th'a books must bn stored vomewlicrn, but it is a mutter of iudiifertmco

whether the.v are all iu one building or scattered in many buildings, whether all in one centre or widely separated, provided only they are readily accessible to those who require tliem. . . .We should endeavour to get rid of the idea that it must necessarily be permanently associated with any single geographical locality, and must arrange the machinery for .its management so that it can adapt itself to varying conditions as they arise—our great object being to see that the influence of the institute is exerted and its advantages 'enjoyed wherever they will be most effective in promoting, the objects lor which it was established. Dr. Chilton recommended that the library, which was really of considerable size and value, should be decentralised that the different sections be sent to different oentres to be housed there, that a good card index of tjie whole library be kept at every centre, and that workers in the different centres should be given every opportunity. Of taking away and using such books as they might require. He also recommended that in order to extend the influence of the institute it should also bo decentralised, and that its meetings should be held at centres other than Wellington. Hamilton Memorial. The Wellington Philosophical Sooiety early last year undertook to collect funds for' the erection of a memorial to the late Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum, and at the last -meeting of the New Zealand Institute Board of Governors the! action of the Wellington Philo.sophical Society was approved. The committee appointed by the Council of the Wellington Philosophical Society' to deal with tsie matter, reported that the sum of one hundred guineas is in hand, and had ascertained from Mr. Harold Hamilton that the wishes of the family were that a stone should be erected on the grave at Russell. A plain monolith of Whangaroa basalt was suggested, with a reference thereon to the* late gentleman's keen interest in the Maori race. —Tho president expressed the thanks of tho Board of Governors to the Wellington Society for the work they had done. The annnal statement or accounts, and also the report of the Standing Committee wero adopted without debate. The Hector Medal. In accordance with the report of the Hector Memorial Committee, tho Hector Medal was awarded to Professor Marshall, of the University of Otago. The president offered to the medallist the congratulations of the institute, and Professor Marshall expressed gratification at the honour done him. More Money. Mr. G. M. Thomson moved that the institute urge 'upon • the Government the necessity ot increasing the annual grant from £500 to £750. He added that while it would bo undesirable for the Government to make this extra payment during the currency of tho war, the Government ought at once to .pass the necessary legislation. The grant the institute received was the same as it had received for 40 years, in tho meantime it had widened its sphere of activity very much, and it had a greater influence on. the people of New Zealand.

There was some discussion on the motion, some members being of opinion it was not right to make the application while tho Empire was at war. Dr. Farr suggested that it would be impracticable for the Government to make the grant now. Mr. Thomson retorted: "Not impracticable! They have wasted more money on decorating tho front of that museum than would have kept the institute going for ten years." After further discussion, .Mr. Thomson withdrew his motion, and substituted for it. another setting out the fact that tho institute's, work was constantly hampered by lack of adequate funds, and urging tho Government to increase tho grant to the institute of £500 to £750 as soon as possible. Consideration of the proposal to make a "levy on all affiliated societies according to their membership was postponed until nest year. The Library. It was resolved, after considerable discussion, that custody of the libra ry-of the institute be offered to the Board of Science and Art on. conditions to bo agreed upon,. so soon as a proper fireproof building should bo ! orected for the housing of the library, and a competent librarian appointed to take charge of the library. Miscellaneous. Awards of £15 each were granted out of the Hutt Fund to Mr. C. A. Cotton; of Wellington, for research work in physiography on tho New Zealand coast, and to Mr. W. R. B. Oliver,' of Auckland, for biological research, on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. A letter was received from the UnderSecretary for Internal Affairs, stating that the Government were now carrying out the proposal to extend the boundaries of Tongariro National Park in accordance with a report by Dr.; Cockayne and Mr. Phillips Turner, to take £a the forest on Honungatahi and the Waimarimo Plain down to the railway line. The announcement was received with expressions of satisfaction. On the motion of Mr. G. M. Thomson, it was decided that in consideration of the importance of the fishing industry a catalogue of tho fishes of New Zealand be prepared at as early a date as possiblo. It was resolved again to urge on the Government the desirability of .passing a Plumage Bill on the lines of the English Act. Eleotion of Officers. / The election of officers resulted as follows President, Mr. D. Petrie; lon. treasurer, Mr. C. A. Ewen: hon. editor, Professor C. Chilton; publication committee, Dr. Benham, Professor Chilton, Dr. Farr, Mr. G. M. Thomson, and Mr. R. Speight; hon. librarian, Dr.- Allan Thomson; library committee, Dr. Thomson. Dr. Cockayne, and Mr. C. A. Cotton ; secretary, Mr. B. C. Apton • Hector Award-Committee, Professor Pollock. Professor Osborne, and Professor W. E. Cooke, all of Sydney University, and Father Piggott, seismologist, also of Sydney ; honorary member, Professor William Babson, president of the Brit-' isli Association.