L—l3a,

Libraries No true university can exist without adequate library facilities. The following table shows the state of the University libraries (1910) : —

*No college library; books stored temporarily in one small room, and in a few cases in the college hall. t No particulars of the library at the Otago University are available. J This has since been reduced to £150. The table given above shows that— (1 ) If there were no overlapping in the college libraries, they would form collectively only the nucleus of a university library (2 ) The annual grant for purchase of new books, binding, &c, is quite inadequate. (3 ) Periodical literature has been unduly neglected. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your honourable House will inquire into the state of university administration and education in New Zealand. And your petitioners will ever pray &c. Thos. H Laky H B Kihk. (And 11 others.

REPOET.

No. 620.—Report on the Petition of Thomas H Laby and twelve others (University Professors). Petitioners pray for inquiry into the state of university administration and education in New Zealand. The Education Committee has the honour to report on the petition of Thomas H. Laby and twelve others, That the Committee is of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Education Committee at the beginning of next session, in order that full investigation may be made; and, further, that the petition, with the departmental reports, be printed and circulated. 16th November, 1910. T K. Sidey, Chairman,

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

Sm, — Education Department, Wellington, 20th October, 1910. In reference to the petition of Thomas H. Laby, H. B. Kirk, and others, I have the honour to say that, as the whole matter of the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees is now under the consideration of a special Recess Committee of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, which has power to call a conference of professors of the four University Colleges, and as the question of these degrees involves also most of the matters that form the subject of the petition, I hardly deem it expedient at present that an inquiry should be held into the state of university administration and education in New Zealand, but suggest that time should be given to see what may be the result of the labours of the Recess Committee and of the conference of professors referred to. I have, &c, G. Hogben, The Clerk to the Education Committee. Inspector-General of Schools.

3

Auckland, founded 1882. Victoria, founded 1897 Canterbury, founded 1873. Otago, founded 1869. Number of volumes Average of volumes per year Annual grant for last three years Number of periodicals subscribed to Number of free journals i 7,000 250 £120 23 Nil 7,250 550 £295$ 46 10 4,000* 110 £100 8 Nil t