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The Committee The Committee met ten times during tlie year. Appointment of Director Dr. R. A. Falla, Director of the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, was appointed Director of the Dominion Museum in May, 1947, and took up his duties on the Ist November. Until that date Mr. W. J. Phillipps performed the duties of Acting-Director. Staff Miss E. C. Millar was appointed Librarian in April, Miss V. Norman to the Exhibition Section in July, and Mr. J. Gr. Brennan in October as Junior Assistant to Mr. Phillipps. A number of recommendations for reorganization of staff were submitted by the Director and approved by the Committee. Accessions Seventy accessions were recorded during the year, representing collections in all departments. Restoration of Building Beyond the completion of repairs in the Lecture Hall and Royal Society's room, no further restoration was done, and, consequently, the Museum continued to operate under the same disabilities as during the war. Expansion schemes outlined in last annual report are still looked forward to, and the pressure on existing space becomes more serious with every new accession. The position has now been reached when the Museum is unable to find even storage space for important collections that are actually available. Education Section Educational services were carried on with some increase in the floor space available for visiting classes, but a continued restriction in the range of exhibits. Instead of the former series of lessons requiring about nine visits per class, a choice of lessons relating to the new syllabus is now offered and classes " booked " at times most nearly suitable to the teachers. This increases the organizing duties of the Education Officer and his assistant, but offers wider educational advantages which already are being availed of by some 20 per cent, more pupils than the scheme of providing for a fixed 1,500 children per year. One hundred loan exhibits were circulated in Nelson, Hawke's Bay, Horowhenua, and the Bush districts. The preparation of more cases was undertaken with the full-time assistance of two members of the Museum staff. Illustrated leaflets and notes on " Maori Canoes and Warfare " and " How to Mount Insects " were added to the series of seven already printed, and distribution extended to all schools under the Nelson, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington Education Boards. This service was made possible by an increased grant from the Education Department. Fifty-four student teachers from the teachers' training college assisted in instructional work during periods of supervised training. In addition to this, a three-day course was provided in November, 1947, for all senior students of the college, and similar courses were provided early in 1948 for both students and regular teachers when schools were closed owing to epidemics. The Natural History Club is still restricted to a small number of keen pupils who attend in their own time. Those of long membership have attained a high standard in collecting skill and field observing. The Museum staff assists the Education Service in club work, student training, identifications, and technical assistance, and in return receives much reciprocal help and many practical suggestions from Mr. Stannard and Miss Lawson.

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