MUSEUM OF NATURE

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 12

MUSEUM OF NATURE

Protecting antiquities in N.Z.

Shortly after the Cook bicentenary celebrations of 1969-70 the writer was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the owner not to export for sale in London a pocket-size ship’s chronometer, plausible associated with Cook’s second voyage, and brought to Canterbury about 1851 by Colonel Alexander Lean. Fortunately the highest bid of £2200 failed to reach the sender’s reserve price and this unique relic of both. the first European landing in Mew Zealand and the first European settlement of Canterbury, has returned to New Zealand. At that time the Historic Articles Act could not hold such an object in New Zealand; but under the Antiquities Bill, shortly ‘to come into force, the Minister of Internal Affairs will have power to forbid the export of many categories of chattel associated with the European discovery and settlement of New Zealand.

These could range from a ship’s cannon yet to be raised from the sea-bed to a hand-made chair. In addition there will be protection for a wide range of historical archives, such as letters, shipboard journals, diaries, prints, paintings, photographs and certain categories of book.

their circulation within New Zealand. Under the heading of artefacts — material relics of Maori discovery and settlement — public museums up and down the country preserve, for unrestricted educational display and research, treasures beyond number presented during a hundred years and more by finders and owners for the benefit of all. Owners of private collections may retain them without restriction. Those artefacts they do not wish to deposit with a museum they may offer for sale to a new class of registered collectors through registered deal-, ers. Registered collectors may also exchange among themselves and buy and sell through registered dealers.

Phasing out The general purpose ofr this part of the bill is to ( hold the flow of artefact

trafficking at its present level on the expectation that it will gradually phase out. What of the many artefacts yet to be found? > These may not be sold or circulated, in' accordance with the most important clause of the Bill which states: “Any artefact <• found anywhere in New Zealand . or within . . . territorial waters . . . after the Commencement of this act is hereby declared as deemed to be prima facie the property of the Crown.” After this act comes into force the finder of any artefact is invited- to bring it in for identification by the four large museums as named in the act, but also to any other public museum. The mu-

seum will forward a report on the finding to the Secretary of Internal Affairs and including an opinion as to its rarity. When the circumstances warrant it, in the case of an artefact of unusual value and scholarly interest, the department may decide to grant a sum in compensation to the finder. Lifetime use It is expected that the department will exercise a benevolent discretion

and in many cases will allow the finder to retain the artefact during his lifetime but not to sell or dispose of it privately. Of course, the finder may agree forthwith to deposit Irin a museum. Regarding disputes on artefacts held by Maoris according to traditional custom or artefacts recovered from identifiable Maori graves the Maori Land Court will adjudicate. No artefact may be exported without the written permission of the Minister. — R.S.D.