H.—32

2

Shields, Portraits, Etc. During the year two of the older shields of members' portraits have been rephotographed, the original portraits having become so faint as to be unidentifiable. There lias also been placed in the Library- a hue enlarged photographic portrait of Sir Frederick Weld. The Library Annexe. further transferences to the Library Annexe (the rooms recently occupied by the Valuation Department) have been made of works not in frequent demand. By the permission of the Recess Library Committee a portion of the Annexe has been lent for occupation by some of the staff of the Health Department. The increasing demand for more writing-accommodation foi members, together with the necessity for making further transferences of books from the basement find elsewhere, will render it imperative for the room lent to be handed back to the Library as soon as possible. Miscei.i.axfofs. A new card-catalogue cabinet has been ordered, and is now being made by the Public Works Department. The cases constructed for housing the books taken on the islands trip have been utilized for the accommodation of New Zealand books. The existing New Zealand cases had long been overcrowded. There will now be no necessity, at least for some time to come, for another New Zealand case to be specially made. 1 again draw attention to the desirableness of the Library walls being repainted or subjected to some process of cleaning. Copies of the Library rules, with lists of persons on the full-privileges list, were circulated, according to the usual custom, at the commencement of the session. A large number of baskets of books were sent to members during the recess. The usual monthly lists of new accessions have been sent out. Much useful work in the way of repairing, &c., has been done by the Library binder. Mr. C. Johnston. So far the guillotine which I was authorized last session to purchase for the Library bindery has not been procured, but 1 hope to secure such a machine at a reasonable price in the near future. The Library orders for books and periodicals purchased in England have, as usual, been entrusted to Messrs. Sotheran and Co. and Street and Co. respectively, and have received due attention. I have to express my thanks to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee (the Hon. G. J. Anderson, M.P.) and to the Chairman of the Recess Library Committee (the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C.) for the attention paid by these gentlemen to Library matters during the year; also to the High Commissioner and his staff for the promptitude and care displayed by them in connection with Library business in London. Library Accounts. In an appendix will be found the Library balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 1920, with a copy of the auditor's certificate. I have, &c, Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

APPENDIX. GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY Balance-sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1920. Receipts. € s. d. j Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance, Ist September, 1919 .. .. 600 18 8 | Purchase books, periodicals, &c. — Treasury—Annual grant .. .. 600 0 0 Great Britain.. .. .. .. 4-90 11 0 Treasury—Private Bill fees .. .. 50 0 0 New Zealand .. . . .. 427 2 i Rephotographing shields, frames, &c. •• 22 7 (> Fire insurance .. . . .. 18 0 0 Cheque-books .. .. .. 10 0 Sundry small accounts .. .. 7 10 11 Balance, 31st March, 1920, at Bank of New Zealand .. .. .. 284 0 11 tl.i>:,n IS s £1,250 18 8 Examined and found correct. —Robert J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (500 copies), 5.3.

Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l92o.

Price 3d.