H.—33.

10

of learning. This implies much more than the provision of a building and an exhibited, collection. In the words of Brown-Goode,* " A museum, to be useful and reputable, must be constantly engaged in aggressive work, either in education or investigation, or in both. A museum which is not aggressive in policy and constantly improving cannot retain in its service a competent staff, and will surely fall into decay. A finished museum, is a dead museum, and a dead museum is a useless museum. The museum should be held responsible for special services, chiefly as follows :- " («.) For the advancement of learning ■ To aid learned men in the work of extending the boundaries of knowledge by affording them the use of materials for investigation, laboratories, and appliances; to stimulate original research in connection with its own collections, and, to promote the publication of the results. " (ft.) For record : To preserve for future comparative and critical study the material upon which studies have been made in the past, or which may confirm, correct, or modify the results of such studies. " (c.) As an adjunct to the class-room and, the lecture-room. " ((/.) To impart special, information, serving as a ' bureau of information.' " (ft.) For the culture of the public : To serve the needs of the general public through the display of attractive exhibition series, well planned, complete, and thoroughly labelled ; and thus to stimulate and broaden the mind of those who are not engaged in scholar!)' research, and to draw them to the public library and lecture-room. In this respect the effect of the museum is somewhat analogous to that of travel in distant regions." Another aspect under which museum functions may be viewed is that of various classes of the community which the museum should endeavour to serve. f These may be stated as follows for the Dominion Museum: — (1.) The casual visitor, of all ages, resident in Wellington; (2.) The casual visitor, of all ages, visitor to Wellington but resident in New Zealand ; (3.) The casual visitor, of all ages, visitor to New Zealand ; (4.) The local collector or observer ; (5.) The student, elementary or advanced ; (6.) The research worker; (7.) The Government officer, engaged in official scientific work ; (8.) The Government. The needs of each of the above classes must be carefully considered not only in the choice of a site and the arrangement of the collections, but also in formulating a definite plan or policy for the future conduct of the Museum. So far as the arrangement of the collections is concerned, these needs are best met by the adoption of the threefold plan described below. Special Functions of the Dominion Museum. Over and above those functions which the Dominion Museum has in common with other museums, there are special functions which it is required to fulfil in virtue of its relation to the State. These may be classed as follows:— (1.) To assist the Government in the administration of the Maori Antiquities Act by examining all Maori antiquities submitted for report: (2.) To assist the Government in the administration of the Animals Protection Act, and generally to assist in all matters relating to conservation of the native fauna and flora : (3.) To give expert advice to the Government on such matters of science, art, or early history as cannot be dealt with by other Departments of the Public Service. The Dominion Museum also acts as receiving agent in New Zealand for the Smithsonian International Exchange. Probably much economy in distribution of the outgoing scientific publications would ensue if the Museum Were made the sole distributing agent for all parcels addressed to America. Responsibilities of the Dominion Museum for Research Work. In a small and young community like New Zealand it is impossible that the necessary research work for developing fully the resources of the country and, raising the standard of education can be entirely performed by private enterprise. Much has been done in this way, and much by the provincial museums and by the staffs of the University colleges, but there are many gaps waiting to be filled- While the Museum is rightly not made responsible for the development of the resources of the Dominion, there are many ways in which it may aid those Departments whose direct concern this is. Economic science can never advance until pure science—science for the sake of science— has prepared the way. The community may rightly look to the Dominion Museum, provided it is properly organized, to co-ordinate and fill the gaps in the pure science carried on by others. It may fulfil this responsibility in four Ways :— (1.) By providing an adequate library for all scientific workers in New Zealand : (2.) By forming complete collections which will supply the material for specialists to work upon, and by encouraging scientific men both in New Zealand and abroad to ask for and use this material: (3.) By affording scientific men, whether on the staff of the Museum, or not, an opportunity to publish the results of their researches, and by procuring the writing and publication of manuals which will collect and render more accessible the results already obtained : ('I.) By undertaking, through its staff, research work in important directions not undertaken by other scientific men in the Dominion.

* C. Brown-Goodc, loe. cit. , fC/. C. Madeley: Museum Journ., vol. 14 (1914), p. 47.