H.—32

2

Recess-privilege Holders. The number of persons to whom recess privileges or permits were issued was 757, the highest for some years. A large proportion of the permit-holders, however, have only visited the Library once or twice, and many of them have never taken books out. The total number of books of all classes taken out by permit-holders was 12,290. No fiction has been issued to ordinary-privilege holders, the issue of such literature being strictly confined to members of both Houses and those on the full-privilege list. Miscellaneous. A portrait shield of members of the last Parliament has been placed in the Library. An interesting memento of a very notable event in the history of the Empire and of the Dominion has been placed in the Main Reading-room of the Library. This is a pedestal and case holding the pen and stamp used by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister of New Zealand on the occasion of his signing the various Peace Treaties at Versailles. The usual monthly lists of new accessions have been issued to members during the recess. A large number of baskets of books have been sent out to members during the recess. The Library orders for books and periodicals purchased in England have, as usual, been entrusted to Messrs. Sotheran and Co. and Messrs. Street and Co. respectively, and have received due attention. I have to express my thanks to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee (the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C.), and to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Recess Library Committee (the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., and the Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C.), for the attention paid by these gentlemen to Library matters during the year ; also to the High Commissioner and his staff for the promptitude and care displayed by them in connection with Library business in London. Library Accounts. In an appendix will be found the Library balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 1921, with a copy of the auditor's certificate. I have, &c, Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

APPENDIX.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. Balance-sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1921. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance, Ist April, 1920 .. . . 284 611 Purchase of books, periodicals, Treasury—Private Bill fees .. .. 25 0 0 &c— £ s. d. Treasury—Annual grant .. .. 800 0 0 Great Britain .. 473 17 5 New Zealand .. 466 14 8 San Francisco .. 39 3 2 979 15 3 Fire insurance .. .. 18 0 0 Sundries .. .. .. 13 3 0 Balance, 31st March, 1921— Bank of New Zealand 170 7 11 Ijess unp resented cheques 71 19 3 98 8 8 £1,109 6 11 £1,109 6 11 Examined and found correct. —Robert J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (500 copies), £3 10s.

By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.— l92l.

Price 3d.]