H.—32.

Recess Privilege. Once again, owing to the several short sittings of Parliament, the use of the Library by recess privilege holders has been considerably restricted. The number of recess privilege holders has also been greatly reduced by the absence of readers on active service. The total number of privilege holders, exclusive of those who enjoy the full privilege, Government Departments, and officers of Parliament, was 289. The following table shows the figures for some years past:— 1935 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,085 1935-36 (3 months) .. .. .. .. .. 590 1937 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,079 1938 (9 weeks) .. .. .. .. .. 355 1938-39 .. .. .. .. .. .. 790 1939-40 .. .. .. .. .. .. 516 1940-41 .. .. .. .. .. .. 289 The occupations of privilege holders are as follows : Accountants, 6 ; advertising agent, 1 ; agents, 2 ; artist, 1 ; bank clerk, I ; barristers and solicitors, 12 ; bookbinders, 2 ; botanist, 1 ; broadcasting announcer, 1 ; business managers, 3 ; caretaker, 1 ; carpenter, 1 ; chemists, 2 ; civil servants, 42 ; clergymen, 6 ; clerks, 30 ; commercial traveller, 1 ; company directors, 2 ; company manager, 1 ; compositors, 3 ; dentist, 1 ; domestic duties, 31 ; draughtsmen, 3 ; dressmakers, 2 ; editor, 1 ; electricians, 2 ; engineers, 3; hairdresser, 1 ; hotelkeeper, 1 ; insurance manager, 1 ; journalists, 11 ; law clerks, 3 ; librarian, 1; lecturer, 1 ; manufacturer, 1 ; medical practitioners, 2 ; messengers, 4 ; meter-reader, 1 ; no occupation, 2 ; nurse, 1 ; photographer, 1 ; police constables, 4 ; printers, 3 ; railway employees, 2 ; retired, 18 ; salesman, 1 ; school-teachers, 19 ; secretaries, 3 ; shearer, 1 ; soldiers, 2 ; stock agent, 1 ; students, 33 ; tailor, 1 ; timber - worker, 1 ; trade-union ■secretary, 1 ; typists, 4 ; waterside worker, 1 ; wireless operator, 1. The number of baskets and parcels of books posted to members of the Legislature during the recess was 349. New Zealand Library Association. The annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association was held in Dunedin in 1941. A feature of the conference was a broadcast address given by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. P. Eraser) in his capacity as patron of the Association. Many aspects of library co-operation which closely affect the General Assembly Library as a component of the projected National Library were discussed. The Library was represented by the Chief Librarian, the Hon. Sir James Allen, M.L.C., the Hon. D. G. McMillan, M.P., and Mr. P. Neilson, M.P. The Library is very much indebted to the High Commissioner and his staff for their co-operation under unusually difficult conditions in carrying out our commissions. I wish personally to express my appreciation also of the fine spirit shown by the Library staff during the year and to the Joint Library Committee for its sympathetic interest. Attached is a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year, with the certificate of the AuditorGeneral. I have, &c., G. H. SciIOLEFIELD, Chief Librarian. GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT. Statement for the Year ended 31st March, 1941. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. Balance . - . . • • •. ... 58 4 2 Purchase of books and periodicals in— Annual grant .. .. •• 1,250 0 0 United Kingdom and United States .. .. 535 13 8 Private Bill fees .. .. .. •. 65 0 0 Australia .. .. .. . . .. 19 7 2 Refunds, lost books, &c. .. .. .. 7 8 4 New Zealand .. .. .. .. 294 10 0 Petty expenses .. .. .. .. 0 5 7 Photostats .. .. .. .. .. 9 17 0 Bank charge .. .. .. .. 0 10 0 Cheque .. .. .. .. .. 0 10 0 Balance, Bank of New Zealand .. .. . . 519 19 1 £1,380 12 6 £1,380 12 6 4th April, 1941. G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct. —J. P. Rutherford, Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (510 copies), £4 ss.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington, —1941.

Price 3d.]

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