CHAIRMAN’S PREFACE. 5 
been received, and, in the uncertainty as to when they may expect it, 
the Committee have not felt justified in commencing the work. Mean- 
while, the Municipal Art Collection was enriched in 1913 by the 
addition of 49 works, some presented and some purchased. 
The ever-increasing demands made on the available space, not only 
in the Art Gallery, but also in the Library and Museum, have, of late 
years, altogether overtaxed the accommodation provided in those 
buildings, and the Committee last year adopted a comprehensive 
scheme, including a considerable number of improvements and extensions 
of different kinds. It is a curious fact that when the Libraries were 
built no provision was made for the administrative staff, and as the 
work has grown they have had to be housed in various parts of the 
buildings, ill-adapted for the purpose, with a sacrifice of both convenience 
and efficiency. The books too have long outgrown the space originally 
provided for them, and have been stored wherever room could tem- 
porarily be found. 
The alterations decided upon last year, and now commenced, include 
the provision of an additional Book Gallery round the Picton Reading 
Room, a more convenient mode of access by the public to that Room, 
new rooms for the Chief Librarian and his staff, the remodelling of the 
heating system in the Libraries and Art Gallery, a separate entrance to 
the Brown Reading Room, a larger Entrance Hall to the Museum, and 
a much improved means of communication between the whole range of 
buildings in William Brown Street. It is hoped to complete this work 
during the present year. 
There have, during recent years, been few changes in the constitution 
of the Committee to record, but, unfortunately, last year was 
exceptional in this respect. Two old and valued Members, Dr. Commins 
and Mr. A. Crosthwaite, resigned. Both of them had given efficient 
service as Chairmen of Sub-Committees. Mr. A. Buckley and Mr. 
Alfred Griffiths also resigned, and Mr. John Byrne left the Council. 
The Lord Mayor, Mr. H. R. Rathbone, who had made the Museum his 
special care, to its great advantage, vacated office on his election to the 
Chief Magistracy, but we hope to see him back again. Mr. Alderman 
Heald, and Councillors T. Burke, H. A. Cole, J. C. Cross, J. Lucas, 
