HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 250, 16 July 1919, Page 8

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

NEED FOR A JOURNAL. All address 011 the preservation of records and manuscripts, and the inauguration of an historical journal was delivered 1 to the historical section of the Philosophical Society last night. Dr. 'I'liomson said that the first purpose of the publication of historical' matter was to make historical records readily and widely available, and so to stimulate and spread intet'est in history. The ■second purpose . was to oncourage historical research, for the first and best encouragement of research was publication. All research must cost a deal of money, for publicalioit could, never bo profitable. All research papers should bo published, for most, if not all of them', should be of sumc value. When he first took over the Museum he had found a number of manuscripts in various holes and corners of the building, and had, set himself to the task of indexing them. He had not been ablo to classify and index more than a few of them, however. Some of these scientific .papers already had been consulted by research workers. It seemed to him that as the historical section grew there would be papers read which would be of value, and an avenue of publication should be found for them. He had this year made a proposal that a historical journal should be published at the expense of the Government, by the Board pf Scienco arid Art'. It was difficult to induce the Government to undertake publication of any books at present, and there would certainly be some delay in the adoption of tho scheme. It was for this reason that he brought the matter forward. ' ' >

forward. ' > Dr. Thomson went 011 to offer suggestions as to what matter should be published in the journal, and he mentioned historical records of New Zealand, papers 011 original researches in New Zealand history, news of collections, of meetings of branches, and so 011, and reviews of historical publications. Thanks were accorded to Dr. Thomson for his address by the chairman, Mr. Elsdou Best, for his suggestions. Ho agreed that it would not be possible to embark 011 a publishing venture, but if for ,the present they went 011 with the collection of papers.- they might one day have quite a lot of good material for publication so soon a riiagazine could be published. : . .. . • There was a brief discussion 011 this question of how to set about getting publication for papers read to the society. One suggestion 'Was that the society should collect funds for publication of a first number—say .£So—but the preponderance of opinion was that this scheme would not be feasible. Allother suggestion was that tho section should seek the co-operation of either branches of the society.