NEEDS OF MUSEUM

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 13

NEEDS OF MUSEUM

j FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE ! OF AUCKLAND. j j PROFESSOR SPEIGHT GIVES '; FACTS AND FIGURES. i The plight of the Canterbury museum when compared with the Auckland museum was commented i on by Professor R. Speight, curator ;of the museum, yesterday. The Canterbury College Board of Governors, he said, had done all it possibly could for the museum, but without outside assistance it would in future compare even more un- , favourably with others in the country than it did at present. No financial assistance whatever had been given the Canterbury museum by the Christchurch City Council last year, while by contrast Auckland [local bodies had contributed more than £SOOO to the upkeep of the Auckland museum. [ The latest annual report of the Auckland museum had just been sent to him, said Professor Speight, and it provided a useful comparison of the condition of the museums in the two cities. This report showed that the income of the Auckland museum last year was £9093, while the expenditure was £8686. Of the £9OOO of income no less than £5621 (was provided by local bodies, while an additional sum of £ 1530 was derived by interest on investments. The remainder of the income included subscriptions, because the Auckland Institute. was grouped with the museum. I Scope of Auckland Work. "With this liberal income one can understand the liberal scope of the work of the Auckland museum," Professor Speight continued. "Its ! staff numbers 26, including a paid scientific staff of six, an honorary scientific staff of seven, and a technical staff of four. A total sum of £5222 was paid in salaries. Another advantage was its new building, costing £250,000, with its new cases and equipment, the upkeep of which should necessitate a minimum of expenditure at present. "On the other hand, the income of the Canterbury museum at present is approximately £I7OO. Its scientific staff consists of one paid member, an honorary curator of the herbarium (Professor Arnold Wall), and a part-time curator, for two hours a week, of the insect collection (Mr S. Lindsay). Besides these there are a full-time taxidermist and three attendants. In all we have a permanent staff of five. The building here is old and inconvenient, and is in constant need of repairs. "I mention these facts in order to bring out the relatively hopeless position of this museum unless something is done. At present there does not appear to be much chance, but when a position appears hopeless generally something arises to put matters straight. Long-standing Disabilities. "The disabilities under which the museum works were recognised by former curators —Captain Hutton and Mr Edgar R. Waite—for as far back as 1895, in answer to complaints that the museum was not progressing as it had done under Sir Julius von Haast, Captain Hutton showed that the amount of money available was much less than formerly, and that the rate of progress could not therefore be maintained. In 1013, when Mr Waite vacated the position of curator, he stressed the necessity for additions to the building. "In one respect this museum still stands ahead in New Zealand—namely, in the extent and variety of its collections. Of course, mcer : tain departments—such as the Maori section—it does not compare with other leading museums in New Zealand. Many of the specimens, such as the mammals and other natural history exhibits, should be replaced, because they are faded, and are antiquated in their mounting. These faded specimens certainly need replacing, but foreign specimens cost a considerable sum. while New Zea- '< land examples are difficult to obtain, since permits to take birds, etc., for museum purposes are verv soanngly given by the authorities in Wellington, and are sometimes refused. All the same, apart from fading, I should sav the condition of the collection, as a whole, is better than ever it was. Present Requirements. "The main requirements of the institution, apart from any question of the size of the staff, is a substantial addition to the building, and th£ replacement of the old undesirable parts by a structure on more modern lines. , "It is therefore much to be hoped that the City Council will consider favourably the petition which is to be placed before it for a contribution to the funds of the institution, seeing that at a time such as the present Auckland is contributing more than £SOOO a year for a similar PU "in° S making this statement," said Professor Speight in conclusion, 1 do not wish to reflect in any way on the controlling board. The Canterbury College Board of Governors has done all it possibly can for the museum, but unless outside help is forthcoming the relative position _of this museum as compared witn others in the country must become more unfavourable still. Last Year's Finances. An examination of the provisional statement of receipts and payments of the Canterbury museum for 196j shows that £IB9O 12s 2d was spent on the museum during the year. This sum was made up as follows: £ s. d. Furniture and fittings .. 222 17 2 Specimens .. ■• 6( **? % Library books - - 44 19 2 General expenses .. 37& ** £ Salaries .. • • 1 «* 0J D D The income of the museum included a contribution of £ 1695 from an endowment used to assist the museum, the School of Engineering, the School of Art. the Public Library, and the College library. (The total income of this. endowment last year was approximately £3s^o).