ETHNOLOGY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 98, 28 April 1933, Page 9

ETHNOLOGY.

FACILITIES FOR STUDY. MUSEUM AUTHORITIES' AIM. Members of the anthropology and Maori race section of the Auckland Institute, the oldest of the sections attached to the institute, held their eleventh annual meeting on Wednesday. It was reported thaf last year Che section had had a record financial membership of 57, which had enabled it to wipe off a debit and conclude the year with a small credit. The secretary -of the section and assistant ethnologist at the museum, Mr. V. F. Fisher, outlined various aspects of the work of the ethnology department, particularly as it affected the public. The principal objects of a modern museum, he said, were to cater for the education of the general public, to interest and inform school children and to meet the needs of advanced student investigators who might be conducting researches. One of the aims in displaying exhibits was to make them largely self-explanatory. Unknown to a large section of the public, the museum had large reserve collections in its . storerooms, which were very important and always available for students. A system of preparing cases of exhibits for loan to schools had been developed, and a boys' club, with members from ten schools, held meetings at the museum. Another aspect of the work of the ethnology department, said Mr. Fisher, was the lectures given to various societies, church institutes, boy scouts, girl guides and scientific,bodies, members of the staff regarding it as part of their work to share their special knowledge with the community. A special room at the museum had been' set apart for the use of clubs, while if four or more teachers brought children to the museum they were conducted over it by a member of the staff. The museum authorities were anxious that the public should come to use it as a reference library. Officers were elected as follows:—Chairman, Mr. L. Hogwood; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. V. F. Fisher; committee, Messrs. O. Adams, H. D. Buddie, A. Geddes, E. Howard, W. Williams; hon. auditor, Mr. J. G. Restell.