APPEAL FOR FUNDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 8

APPEAL FOR FUNDS.

SCIENCE AND MUSEUMS. THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE. A request for an increased grant was Hi ado to tho Prime Minister yesterday by •a deputation representative of the New ‘Zealand Institute, whose present grant ■:s .£SOO per annum. Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P.» said that forty-four volumes of transactions had been issued to date by the institute. The various branches did very important work. Auckland had a good museum, Canterbury had done some very fine work Uiid the Dunedin society had accomplished a. great deal in establishing a marine fish hatchery, and yet the grant remained the same year after year. They asked for a permanent increase of their grant from JJSOO to «£750, and an additional sum of X'2so this year by why of special grant to meet existing liabilities. The Prime Minister: That is to say, ou want <£looo this year? Mr Thomson: "Yes." Th® deputation also asked that a committee of the House should be appointed with a v;ew to tho setting up of a scientific board ;uf advice to advise on the publication [of all scientific papers so that they might V issued in some uniform size.

i Mr A. Hamilton submitted that it was ihardly fair for the statutory grant of ioi'ty-five years ago to remain the same. The institute had no sort of revenue apart from the Government grant. He Imped a committee would be set up to inquire into the publication of scientific matter. His own suggestion was that tne heads of the scient.Ho departments should meet and report on the suggestion. .A committee or board so constituted (could at times render valuable advice to •tie Government in coming to a decision lon scientific matters. As far as his knowledge went, all national museums were managed by a board, and it was snggesteu that the same system might bo followed here. Mr C. B- Aston (secretary of the society) said that the society was indebted th the sum of .£297. Professor Easterfield and Messrs A. M. Myers and T. K. Sidey, M,l’„ also enlarged on the refjUGot. MONEY NOT PLENTIFUL. The Prime Minister in reply said ho was impressed with the importance of tae work which the institute was doing, but money was not too plentiful, and the Government had to practice economy. The Minister of Finance would toll them that he had already hardened his heait against many applications made tu the Government. What the deputation was asking for would have to appear u the Estimates, and as the Estimates were a Cabinet matter he could only say that ho would convey their representa tions to the Cabinet. So far as the sec and request was concerned he would say B£ once that the deputation would get i.s committee. The House of Representatives would have an. opportunity. of agreeing to the proposal. If the committee brought down a recommendation favourable to the request of the deputation'the'Government would do its best to give effect to it. In reference to the Museum he said there was one member of the Government who took a keen in;erest in the institution, and he had not the slightest doubt that in a very ohort time the museum would be put in a much more satisfactory .position than it was at present.