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investigated the schedules of destruction which were approved by me on my first appointment in 1926. Under these a vast quantity of valueless or ephemeral records created in Government Departments is destroyed by record officers as a routine operation when their immediate use has expired. This provides on the one hand against congestion of record offices with valueless papers," and on the other against inadvertent destruction of documents which may have administrative or historical value. These investigations entailed personal visits to all Departments in Wellington and the examination of the various categories of records proposed to be included in the schedules. The decisions arrived at have been embodied in a series of revised schedules signed by myself as Archivist and the heads of the various Departments. Acknowledgments I would again express my appreciation of the manner in which commissions for the General Assembly Library have been carried out by the Government's oversea agencies in London, Washington and Australia. The sympathetic interest taken by the Joint Library Committee in the work of the Library and the conditions of the staff is also gratefully acknowledged. Attached is the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year with the AuditorGeneral's certificate. I am, &c., G. H. SCHOLEFIELD, Chief Librarian and Archivist.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Statement for the Year ended 31st March, 1946 Receipts £ s. d. Payments £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. 1,112 6 6 Purchase of books and periodicals Annual grant .. .. .. 1,250 0 0 in— Refunds, lost books, &c. .. 19 1 1 United Kingdom .. .. 609 6 7 Private Bill fees .. .. 100 0 0 United States .. .. ■ 516 2 9 Australia .. .. .. 46 12 8 New Zealand .. .. 324 7 10 Bank charge .. .. .. 0 10 0 Cheque-book .. .. .. 0 10 0Petty expenses .. .. 1 15 9 Balance, Bank of New Zealand .. 982 2 0 £2,481 7 7 £2,481 7 7 G. H. Schqlefield, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct.—J. P. Rutherford, Controller and Auditor-GeneraL 6th May, 1946.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (488 copies, £7)

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Governmemt Printer, Wellington. —1946. Price 3d.}

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