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Session 11. 1912, NEW ZEALAND.

MUSEUM AND SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF); TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. (Mr. G. M. THOMSON, Chairman.)

Report brought up 10th September, 1912, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 14th Day ov August, 1912. Ordered, " That a special Committee bo appointed to consider the following questions : (1) The constitution of a Scientific Board of Advice to which the publication of all scientific work undertaken by various Government Departments should be referred; (2) the issue of all Government scientific publications in future in certain uniform sizes, instead of their being brought out, as is done now, by the various Departments in all manner of forms and sizes; (3) the placing of the management of the Dominion Museum in the hands of a Board of Trustees, as is done in the case of the Australian and other museums, which might, however, be the same body as is suggested in paragraph (1) : such Committee to have power to call for persons and papers : three to be a quorum : and to consist of Mr. Anderson, Mr. Bell, Mr. Ell, Hon. Mr. Herdman, Mr. Myers, Dr. A. K. Newman, Mr. Russell, Mr. Sidey, and the mover."— (Mr. G. M. Thomson.)

BEPOET. The Museum and Scientific Departments Committee has the honour to report that, in accordance with the order of reference, it has met to consider the matters submitted to it, and has taken evidence in connection therewith. It now begs to submit the following recommendations, which have been agreed to unanimously : — (1.) That a scientific Board of Advice be set up to which the publication of all scientific and historical work undertaken by Government Departments should be referred. (2.) That the Board consist of the Minister of Internal Affairs (ex officio), three members to be nominated by the Governor, and three members to be elected annually by the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. (3.) That the scientific and historical publications include the Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, the Bulletins of the Geological Survey, the Annual Reports of all the scientific branches of the Government Departments, and such scientific and_ historical works as the Government may, on the recommendation of the Board from time to time, order to be printed. (4.) That these publications be brought out in certain uniform sizes to be agreed upon by the Board. (5.) That the Dominion Museum continue under the Minister of Internal Affairs. (6.) That the proposed National Gallery of Art be a department of the Museum. (7.) That there be established in connection with the Museum a National Library of Scientific Works,' within which should be gathered all scientific literature available now belonging to Government Departments, and also if possible that of the New Zealand Institute. (8.) That a Board of Advice and Control be established for the combined institution, of which the Minister of Internal Affairs should be the President, and upon which nine other members should be appointed, including the Mayor of Wellington, the President of the New Zealand Institute, and such other persons as may be nominated by. the Governor. All resolutions of the Board to be subject to the veto of the Minister, who shall be responsible to Parliament for the administration. . (9.) That the Government be requested to promote legislation ()f necessary) to give effect to the above recommendations. (10.) That the Committee regards the erection of a new Museum as a matter of great urgency. 10th September, 1912. Geo. M. Thomson, Chairman.