VISITORS TO MUSEUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 12

VISITORS TO MUSEUM.

DISTINGUISHED PERSONS. RECORD OF SIGNATURES. DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL. A proposal to keep in tlie War Memorial Museum a book to be signer] by (listinguished visitors causer! a good deal <>f discussion when it was brought forward by tiie chairman, Mr. If. K. Vaile, at the meeting of the museum council yesterday. In making his proposal Mr. Vaile said that if such a book were obtained and were signed by really distinguished visitors it should make an interesting record in years to come and should be of considerable historic value.

"J am aware that a visitors' book often degenerates into a farce," Mr. Vaile continued. "It certainly would not be desirable to have everybody sigriinn the book. We just want tho first-grado people. The second-grade people usually spill ink all over the book and write idiotic remarks in the wrong column. However, it would be of value to possess a record of the names of distinguished scientists and other prominent persons who should at different times visit the museum." Mr. Vaile suggested that the book should be for the use of people who were being specially conducted over the institution. Two Books at Munich Museum. Professor F. P. Worlev said he noticed during a recent visit to Munich that the museum there maintained two books, one for "first-grade" visitors and the other for "second-grade." Mr. R. T. Michaels: I hope the day will never come when the question of grades will be introduced into this countrv.

Continuing, Mr. Michaels said the museum had been paid for by the people arid it was most undesirable that any distinctions should be raised. "We must remember," ho said, "that this is purely and simply an institution of the people. If the King himself were to come here, much as wo would bo honoured by the visit, I think no distinctions should be raised and I do not think he would welcome them. The position is different now from what it was in the old museum. We administer this institution for the people of Auckland, who arc its real owners, and I strongly protest against the making of any discriminations at all."

The chairman said the book would not be a public thing at all, but would be used in connection with the history of the museum. To ask everybody who came into the building to sign the book would be to reduce the thing to a farce. Mr. W. C. Leys said he agreed that everyone had the right to come into the museum. If distinguished visitors were invited from all parts of the world some free advertising might result, and this would be all to the benefit of the museum. He suggested that names to go in tlie book should bo thoso of visitors who were specially invited and conducted over the museum by the director or council. Patronage and Dignity.

Sir Carrick Robertson said he thought the people of Auckland would be glad to see a number of distinguished names in the book.

The chairman then formally moved that tho director be authorised to have a book made for recording the signatures of distinguished visitors, and this motion was carried.

A further proposal put forward by the chairman was the question whether it was now a suitable time for tho council to appoint a patron. The addition of the phrase "Under Vice-Regal patronage," he considered, would be a very nice thing. Members expressed the opinion that such a stop would introduce a personal element into the question, which was not desirable and which would detract from the dignity of the museum as a war memorial.

A Voice: Patronage sounds too much like a bazaar.

"I think it would bo a good idea," Mr. Vaile stated. "Several societies are under Royal or Vice-Regal patronage." Mr. W. C. Leys: Only the minor societies.

Mr. Vaile: Still, it would look rather well sometimes to have a coat-of-arms on our annual report.. The matter was then dropped without further discussion.