356 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Dec. 
Section 9. “ (1.) It shall be the duty of the Board,— 
“ (a.) As to the Dominion Museum, Dominion Art Gallery, and Dominion 
Library — 
“ (i.) To manage and direct the same, and the staff em¬ 
ployed : 
“ (ii.) To acquire (out of funds to be appropriated by 
Parliament for the purpose, or through donations) articles, 
books, and documents of scientific, artistic, or historical 
interest, and works of art : 
“ (iii.) To make due provision for access for the public at 
reasonable times of the day to such parts thereof as the Board 
from time to time determines.” 
In 1914, before the war, when it appeared probable that new buildings 
would shortly be provided for the Dominion Museum, Art Gallery, and 
Library, the New Zealand Institute passed a resolution approving of the 
formation of the Dominion Library, and of the principle of handing over the 
library of the Institute to the Board of Science and Art on conditions 
conserving the rights of its members. In 1915 the Institute resolved, “ That 
the Board of Governors hereby offer to hand over their library to the custody 
of the Board of Science and Art, to form an integral part of the Dominion 
Scientific, Art, and Historical Library as constituted under the Science and 
Art Act of 1913, on conditions to be agreed to by the Institute and the 
Board of Science and Art, and that the transfer of the library do not take 
place until a fireproof building of modern design has been erected for the 
housing of the books and a competent librarian has been appointed to give 
his whole time to the management of the library.” 
The war postponed the provision of the new fireproof building required, 
and in consequence the offer of the New Zealand Institute has not yet been 
accepted. Meanwhile the Technological Section of the Wellington Philo¬ 
sophical Society has during the last three years endeavoured to secure a 
technological library in Wellington, but the difficulty of securing suitable 
accommodation has-not been overcome. 
The establishment of a scientific and technological library as a 
prerequisite for any scheme of scientific and industrial research has been 
repeatedly urged upon the Government since 1917 by both the New Zealand 
Institute and the Board of Science and Art, but so far without effect. It is, 
however, satisfactory to note that the Industries Committee of the House 
of Representatives have adopted the proposal in their report to Parliament, 
in which they state : The Committee further recommends that there shall 
be established a central reference library under the control of the Board 
[o.f Science and Industry], containing the most important works relating to 
trade,. commerce, science, and industry, and containing also the trading 
and manufacturing journals ; for without access to an efficient and scientific 
and technological library an investigator must be greatly hampered in his 
work. The library should, under proper regulation, be available for persons 
in any part of the Dominion. In order to avoid duplication, it is suggested 
that existing scientific libraries in Wellington should be, as far as possible, 
merged.” 
The Building-up of the Central Library. 
As soon as a suitable building and staff is provided a library im¬ 
measurably superior to any that has hitherto existed in New Zealand can 
be quickly built up. M The first step will be negotiations by which the 
libraries of the New Zealand Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, 
