64 11 5 Sales 52 4 4 New Zealand 1,145 3 1 Private Bill fees 300 0 0 Other 16 2 11         Bank charges and cheque book 1 10 0         Balance at Bank of New Zealand,
31 March 1958, £1,456 4s. 7d.,
less unpresented cheques, £912 5s. 543 19 7   £5,151 4 1   £5,151 4 1

J. O. Wilson, Chief Librarian.

Examined and found correct—A. D. Burns, Assistant Controller and Auditor-General.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY
LIBRARY SERVICE TO PARLIAMENT
1858-1958

THE BEGINNINGS

Today there are few legislatures without a library of some kind. Parliament works best when its members are well briefed and have access to good sources of information. The shortest speech often requires the verification of facts to be found in books, and the most economical and satisfactory solution is a library. The General Assembly of New Zealand, to give Parliament its more correct title, was not long in deciding this. It met first in 1854 and again in 1855 without a library. At the beginning of the session of 1856, however, the need seems to have been evident for on 6 June Mr W. T. L. Travers from Waimea moved in the House that a library should at once be formed, and a Select Committee set up to consider the best means of establishing one. Three weeks later the Legislative Council followed suit with a similar motion, though here it is interesting to note that Dr Richardson stated that the Councillors had been using the library of the Attorney-General.

The Assembly shared its meeting place with the Auckland Provincial Council, which had in 1853 formed its own library. It was decided that it would be to the advantage of both legislatures to possess a joint library, and on the motion of the chairman the Council was approached to find if it had any objections. The Council did not have any, and in addition offered to provide the librarian and an equal grant for books as well as fittings if the Assembly would provide a room.

On 28 July 1856 the report was laid on the tables of the two Houses, a list of books for purchase given to the Speakers, and a recommendation made that the sum of £100 be placed on the estimates for books. The money was voted, after which Parliament was adjourned, not to meet again until 1858.

The Committee was once again set up, and the situation was such that once again the terms of reference were to consider the best means of establishing a library. The books ordered in 1856, principally on legal and constitutional matters, were there branded "General Assembly" but they were not a library; members had to rely largely on the Provincial Council collection which comprised nine-tenths of the total books available. In its report, the Committee suggested that £300 be devoted to library purposes, and recommended a list of books to be purchased even if they cost more than the £320 available—£20 had not been spent in 1856.

The Committee was not happy about the joint Library, but as matters stood thought it hardly desirable to end the arrangement. It was, however, of the opinion that as soon as practicable the Library should be placed on an independent footing.

To ensure that its recommendations were carried out, and to control and report on the work of the Library, the Committee suggested that an officer, the Librarian of the General Assembly, should be appointed. This was done and the first Librarian was Major F. E. Campbell, the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Two other matters also were considered of sufficient moment to be mentioned. One was the supply of newspapers that had been cancelled as the Government had promised to supply files from Government offices. The other was the acquisition of British Government publications, which would be of great value to the Library. The Committee noted the successful approach of the Canadian Parliamentary Librarian to the British Government and proposed that either Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, who was in England, or the Colonial Agent should be asked to see if the Library could not be given such documents.

Once again two years elapsed before Parliament met again, and the Librarian reported that there were now books, separated from the Provincial Council Library, but in an adjoining room. The approaches to the British Government had not been entirely fruitful, but there was promise of success.

1860-1870

The Library now possessed books and a librarian and the next 10 years were to be amongst the most adventurous of the Library's story. However, they began quietly when in 1861 the Committee recommended the appointment of a permanent messenger for the Library instead of a sessional one.

Next year the session was held in Wellington in the Provincial Council Chambers. A case of books was sent for use of members. Unfortunately it was lost when the White Swan carrying the Governor and Auckland members was wrecked near Castlepoint. The published list gives 50 books, mainly reference works on constitutional and economic matters, but the greater loss was that of the House, which was deprived of not only its documentary records but also most of the early printed papers. The Committee, nothing daunted, recommended that the books be replaced and used the mishap to have the vote raised to £500 for the year.

The sessions of 1863 and 1864 were both held in Auckland. In the latter year the Librarian was instructed to prepare cases so that the books could be moved to Wellington along with the other Government records.

Parliament took over the old Provincial Council Chambers in Wellington but they were enlarged to meet its requirements. The Library had a new home built specially for it costing £1,800 which was, with extensions, to provide an uneasy resting place for the next 35 years. In one paper the new library was described as "a very lofty handsome building with large painted windows". In another, "The Library is a fine room, handsomely decorated and the walls are fitted with bookshelves." It was of wood.

Details about the administration of the Library during the early years are few, but it appears that the Committee was undoubtedly the mainspring of the organisation. It contained men such as Carleton, Fitzherbert, Travers, and Domett, to mention only the best known, who were interested not only in the Library for its own sake but also in the part it could play in parliamentary affairs and in providing pleasure to members.

The Committee was responsible for book selection, carried out mainly during the session. While control over the Library in the recess lay with representatives of the House and Council, from the first H. F. Carleton, Chairman of Committees of the House, and a classical scholar, was responsible for seeing the books were obtained and that the funds were expended.

Until 1861 the only assistance in the Library was provided by a sessional messenger, but a full-time sub-librarian was provided from 1862. When Parliament moved to Wellington different arrangements were necessary and in 1866 the Committee suggested that a