On the New Zealand Institute, its Relation to the Affiliated Societies and to Scientific Work in New Zealand generally.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 17, 1884, Unnumbered Page

On the New Zealand Institute, its Relation to the Affiliated Societies and to Scientific Work in New Zealand generally. By G. M. Thomson. (Abstract) 1. “On the New Zealand Institute, its Relation to the Affiliated Societies and to Scientific Work in New Zealand generally,” by G. M. Thomson. The following recommendations were adopted:—1. That it is desirable, in the interests of scientific work generally in New Zealand, that the New Zealand Institute as at present existing be subdivided into two portions—the following departments, under the care of the present manager, viz.: the Colonial Museum, Geological Survey, the Libraries, Meteorological Stations, Observatory, Laboratory, and the publications belonging respectively to these bodies, being formed into a separate Government department; while the New Zealand Institute proper, consisting of the affiliated societies only, be reconstituted on the basis laid down in the following recommendations. 2. That the management be in the hands of a Board of Governors constituted as follows:—One governor to be elected by each of the affiliated societies, the full number of governors (say 15) to be made up by nomination. 3. A meeting of the Board to be held during the last full week in January in each year. 4. The income of the New Zealand Institute to consist of the annual Parliamentary vote, together with contributions from the affiliated societies; such contributions to be fixed annually by the Board of Governors, and not to exceed one-fourth of the annual subscriptions of members. 5. That a responsible editor of the “Transactions” be appointed by the governors, a suitable remuneration for his

services being provided out of the funds of the Institute. 6. That the selection of papers for publication in the “Transactions” be made in the first instance by the Councils of the affiliated societies, the final decision in each case to rest with the Board of Governors. It was resolved to send copies of these recommendations to the various Affiliated Societies, inviting their consideration of the proposed changes, and their co-operation in carrying out the objects desired; attention being drawn to the fact that certain of the recommendations can be carried out without affecting “The New Zealand Institute Act, 1867,” while others will involve the amendment of that Act.