GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1935 Session I, H-32

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1935. NEW ZEALAND,

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

To the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to report on the operations of the General Assembly Library for the year 1934-35. Accessions. During the year 3,119 volumes were added to the collection, as compared with 2,880 in the previous year. These were not all purchased, as a considerable number is accounted for by donations, International Exchange, and binding of New Zealand works. The rapid dilapidation of books consequent on the large numbers using the Library makes it very difficult to keep the stock up to the standard one would expect in a library such as this. Nowadays there are published so many important sociological works, both books and magazines, essential to the Library, that after these have been purchased there is only a small sum available for the other sections, some of which have suffered badly in recent years. The balance at the Bank of New Zealand at 31st March, 1935, was absorbed by outstanding commitments. Donations. During the year the Library received as a donation from the Right Hon. Viscount Bledisloe a valuable work on dogs, and some photographs of the Waitangi celebrations. Several gifts of old magazines and newspapers have proved useful for completing our files and adding to our collections of early newspapers. Interesting material dealing with current political and economic conditions has been received from the Consuls for Italy, Germany, and China in Wellington ; and from the Japanese Consul in Sydney, and the Board of Tourist Industry at Tokyo. Other donations were received from the Country Press Co-operative Co. (Sydney) ; I). J. Amos (Adelaide) ; the Skinners Co. (London) ; Dr. H. K. Corkill (Wellington) ; T. Hashimoto (Tokyo) ; J. Burrow and Co., Ltd. (Cheltenham, England). Binding. The binding vote was fully expended. In addition to the usual newspapers, we were enabled to bind certain of the New Zealand periodicals and pamphlets which should be preserved, and to rebind some five hundred volumes damaged by wear and tear. Staff. In March, at the invitation of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Chief Librarian, Dr. G. H. Scholefield., 0.8. E., left for Europe, via Australia and South Africa, to visit libraries abroad. He will return via the United States of America. At the beginning of February I returned to duty after a year's leave of absence without pay. During my sojourn in Great Britain I took the opportunity of visiting some of the principal libraries to study their methods and equipment, and I also visited libraries in Germany and Italy. Owing to the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, I was enabled to return to New Zealand via the United States, and to spend nearly two months there studying library methods. I was able to include thirty-five libraries (including the Library of Congress) in my itinerary. I received useful instruction and advice from the librarians I met in all parts, and made contacts invaluable from the point of view of library work. I should like to place on record my deep appreciation of all that was done for me while I was in America. In January, Mr. A. D. Mcintosh, M.A., was seconded for duty in the Prime Minister's Department, and in February Mr. B. R. Turner, 8.A., 8.C0m., was appointed to the staff.

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International Exchange and Official Documents. During the year arrangements were completed for a full exchange of official documents with Great Britain and the United States of America, and a limited exchange with Germany. An official-documents section, embracing these and similar documents from all parts of the British Empire, has been started in the library, and it is hoped to extend the exchange still further so as to strengthen this department, which should prove invaluable, for reference, purposes. Additional accommodation is needed to house this section adequately. Considerable additional work falls on the Library as agent for the International Exchange Service, as shipments arrive frequently from various countries and have to be sorted and despatched by our staff. Recess Privileges. The number of persons who had the privilege of using the Library during the recess was 1,085, compared with 1,031 during the previous recess. The vocations of the recess privilege holders were as follows : Accountants, 20; advertising managers, 3 ; agents, 11 ; architect, 1 ; artists, 3 ; auditors, 2 ; bankers, 3 ; bank clerks, 16 ; barristers and solicitors, 28 ; bookseller, 1 ; builder, 1 ; business managers, 17 ; butcher, 1 ; caretakers, 2carpenter, 1 ; carrier, 1 ; cashier, 1 ; caterer, 1 ; chemists, 3; Civil servants, 166; clergymen, 16 .; clerks, 142 ; commercial travellers, 8; company directors, *6 ; compositors, 2; confectioner, 1; contractors, 2; dentists, 4- domestic duties, 145; draftsmen, 2 ; drivers, 4 ; editor, 1 ; educationalist, 1 ; electrical mechanics, 7 ; engineers, 17 ; engraver 1 ; forester, 1 ; grocers, 2 ; hairdresser, 1 ; importers, 3 ; Inspectors of schools, 2 ; insurance manager, 1 ; journalists, 11 ; laboratory attendant, 1 ; labourers, 2 ; law clerks, 17 ; librarians, 4 ; lecturer, 1 ; manufacturers, 9 ; master mariner, 1 ; mechanicians, 5 ; medical practitioners, 13 ; merchants, 18 ; messengers, 8 ; meteorologist, 1 ; monotype operator, 1 ; musicians, 2 ; music-teachers, 2 ; naval officer, 1 ; no occupation, 43 ; nurses, 15 ; plumber, 1 ; police constables, 2 ; postal employees, 2 ; printers, 10 ; publisher, 1 ; radio serviceman, 1 ; railway employees, 2 ; readers, 2 ; retired, 68 ; sailmaker, 1 ; salesmen, 18 ; secretaries, 19 ; school-teachers, 43 ; social workers, 3 ; soldier, 1 ; stenographers, 21 ; storeman, 1 ; students, 37 ; surveyors, 3 ; telegraphists, 8 ; typistes, 18; trade-union secretaries, 3; tram-conductors, 3; warehousemen, 9; waterside worker, 1 ; wireless operator, 1. Archives. Every year interest in the archives increases among both local students of New Zealand history and visitors from overseas, and this section is most valuable to those doing research work. During his visit abroad Dr. Scholefield is paying special attention to the archives of the various countries he visits. Library Committees. During the financial year the following meetings of the Library Committees were held : Legislative Council, 1 ; House of Representatives, 1 ; Joint Library Committee, 1 ; Selection Sub-Committee, L I would like to express my appreciation of the loyal support accorded me by the members of the staff, and the helpful co-operation of the Library Committee. The balance-sheet for the year, with the auditor's certificate, is attached. I have, &c., W. S. Wauchop, Acting Chief Librarian.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT. Statement for the Year ended 31st March, 1935. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. dTo Annual grant .... .. .. 750 0 0 By Debit balance ... .. .. 1 210 Additional annual grant .. .. 150 0 0 Purchase of books and periodicals in— Private Bill fees .. .. .. 145 0 0 United Kingdom .. .. .. 672 12 11 Refunds for lost books, &c. .. .. 9 6 9 New Zealand .. .. .. 147 5 0 United States (Honolulu) .... .. 30 19 6 Australia .. .. .. .. 12 5 10 Insurance . . . .. .. 17 10 0 Railage .. .. .. .. 116 Petty expenses .. .. .. 0 4 7 Bank charges and cheque-book .. 1 10 0 Balance at 31st. March, 1935 : Bank of New Zealand .. .. 169 14 7 £1,054 6 9 £1,054 6 9 W. S. Wauchop, Acting Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct. —J. H. Fowler, Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given : printing (427 copies), £2.

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