FUNDS OF MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21506, 1 June 1933, Page 13

FUNDS OF MUSEUM

PRIVATE HELP NEEDED

MEETING FALL ON INCOME

GOOD WORK OF THE ST AFF

The real nsed of more funds from private fjourcei. to maintain and extend the work of the Wir Memorial. Museum was emphasised at the annua] meeting of members of tho Auckland Institute and Museum last Evening. In moving the adoption of the annual report and statement of accounts, the president, Mr. A. 6. Limn, said the work that the Institute and Museum could accomplish, if it had more funds at its disposal, would bo simply enormous; the amount that tha staff did under present conditions was surprising. Mr. S. F. Markham, who had lately visited the -museum as representative of tho Carnegie Corporation, had been extremely pleased with what he found and had given the institution the highest commendation. Financially theie had been a slight decline in the past year. The income and expenditure accou it showed a, deficit of £SOO, which doubtless would be made good in the future This prove:! the need for a permanent endowment fund. Tho institute possessed endowments, but the interest from then was being used to meet working expenses. What was required was an accumulating fund to which members o;: the public might be encouraged to make gifts and bequests.

Valuable Gifts Made For the museum collections large and varied gifts continued to be received, and n. considerable list of them was reported at each meeting of the council, showing that Auckland people took a real and generous interest in the museum. lie would like to refer particularly to the lste Mr. H. S. Dadley's bequest of his magnificent collection of Oriental art, the gift of Maori articles, old coins and objects of art by the iate Mr. Moss Davis, Sir James Parr's gift of mementoes received by him in a quarter of a cenl;ury of puhlic service, together with a ziandsome case to contain them, and Mr. W. H. Hemingway'n recently announced .gift of an Australian aboriginal collection. The museum was wel! on its way to becoming a storehouse of the most valuable possessions. A new feature that had been introduced was introductory displays in the various sections, for the benefit of visitors who had not the benefit of a scientific education. These, he believed, would be a real inducement to many people to rake up the study of branches of science. Mr. Limn concluded with a general appeal for assistance in raising additional funds. The council, he said, very much regretted that it had been obliged to reduce salaries, but he was glad to add that the members of tfie sstaff were working wi :h the same enthusiasm as ever. The council hoped that it would be enabled to oarry on without curtailing the present activities. A Fa LI in Income Mr. IT, E. Vaile, in seconding the motion, said that the deficit had not been due to over-spending by the council, but only tc the fact that the income fell by £SOO in the course oi: the year. The staff was much overworked, but the attendances showed that its efforts were really appreciated by the public. I ndoub;edly the success of the museum was almost wholly due to the enthusiasm %>f the staff. There was a great neod for more subscribers and for monetary gifts Professor A. P. W. Thomas, who said that he had been associated with the museum for a full half-century, supported the motion. In announcing the election of Professor B. W. segar as president, Mr. Lunn sa:d thai the professor had been president; of the New Zealand Institute vor the pt.st year. He was one of this oldest members and had done much work foi the museum.

Professor Segar thanked the members for elect ng him and remarked that tho institute had reached a stage when it might revert to the old custom of choosing ''academic men" as well'as Mayor j and business men, for the office of president. Under the rules, Mr. Lunn was appointed a vice-president in place of Sir James Parr. Four vacancies on the council were filled by the election unopposed of Sir James Parr, Mr. C. R. Ford, Mr. J. C. Entrican and Mr. A. H. Johnstone. A cinematograph film, showing the habits of pie:l and king shags, was exhibited by Mr. R. A. Fall;i, the museum ornithologist.