An Act to provide for the Constitution and Control of a Dominion Museum, Art Gallery, and Library, and for the Publication of certain Scientific Works.

BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Short Title.

This Act may be cited as the Science and Art Act, 1913.

2 Interpretation.

In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context,—

“Board” means the Board of Science and Art constituted under this Act:

“Director of Museum” means the person for the time being appointed by the Governor to be the Director of the Dominion Museum:

“Minister” means the Minister of Internal Affairs:

“Museum” means the Dominion Museum constituted under this Act:

“New Zealand Institute” means the New Zealand Institute constituted under the New Zealand Institute Act, 1908.

3 Dominion Museum.

There shall be a Dominion Museum in the City of Wellington upon a site to be hereafter determined.

4 Dominion Art Gallery.

A Dominion Art Gallery, wherein shall be kept and exhibited paintings, drawings, and sculpture, shall be established either within the building of the Dominion Museum or in a building or buildings adjoining the Dominion Museum.

5 Dominion Library.

There shall be a Dominion Scientific, Art, and Historical Library (hereinafter referred to as the Dominion Library) in the City of Wellington, within or adjoining the Dominion Museum.

6 Control of Government Museum, Wellington.

Until the determination of the site of the Museum and the erection and establishment of the buildings thereon, the land and buildings in Museum Street, Wellington, known as the Government Museum, shall be the Dominion Museum.

7 Moneys to be appropriated by Parliament for establishment and maintenance of Dominion Museum, Dominion Art Gallery, and Dominion Library.

The provision for the building and equipment of the Dominion Museum, the Dominion Art Gallery, and the Dominion Library, and for the acquisition of articles and documents of scientific, artistic, or historical value to be kept and exhibited therein respectively and for the maintenance and management thereof respectively, shall be by moneys to be appropriated by Parliament for the purposes.

8 Constitution of Board of Science and Art.

(1.)

There shall be a Board styled “The Board of Science and Art,” consisting of—

The Minister of Internal Affairs:

The Director of the Dominion Museum:

The President of the New Zealand Institute:

Five persons to be appointed by the Governor in Council, each of whom shall hold office for three years from the date of his appointment.

Meetings of Board.

(2.)

The Board shall sit in the City of Wellington at such times and places as shall be appointed from time to time by the Minister.

(3.)

Three of the members shall form a quorum.

(4.)

At all meetings of the Board the Minister, if present, shall be the Chairman, and in his absence some member of the Board appointed by him in writing shall be Chairman.

(5.)

The Chairman shall have a deliberative vote, and in all cases of equality of votes shall also have a casting-vote.

(6.)

The President of the New Zealand Institute may appoint in writing a deputy, being a Governor of the New Zealand Institute, to attend and act at any meeting of the Board in his place; and such deputy, while so attending, shall be deemed to be a member of the Board.

9 Functions and duties of Board.

(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 employed:

(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:

(b.)

As to all papers and reports of a scientific nature issued or published by or under the authority of any Department of the Government of New Zealand,—

(i.)

To consider in each year all such papers and reports:

(ii.)

To direct the printing or reprinting of such of the said papers and reports as the Board determines to be of such scientific value or of such general public interest as to deserve permanent record:

(iii.)

To cause such papers and reports as last aforesaid to be annually printed or reprinted by the Government Printer in a volume or volumes in form uniform for every year.

(2.)

It shall also be the duty of the Board to advise the Government as to any expenditure which may be reasonably incurred with benefit to the Dominion in scientific and historical research and the development of science and art.

10 Transfer of pictures, &c., from Dominion Art Gallery to other public galleries.

(1.)

All pictures or other works of art purchased for the Dominion Art Gallery out of moneys appropriated by Parliament may, on application in that behalf, be temporarily transferred for exhibition to such public art galleries as the Board from time to time directs.

(2.)

Applications under this section may be made by the governing bodies of such galleries, but such governing bodies shall, if required, furnish to the Dominion Art Gallery a sufficient number of works to fill the places of those transferred. The cost of such transfer shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund.

11 Governor may direct that historical public books and documents be stored in Dominion Museum or Dominion Library.

The Governor may from time to time direct that any historical public books and documents shall be stored and preserved in the Dominion Museum or the Dominion Library, and may direct which, if any, of such books and documents shall be kept open for public inspection.

12 Regulations.

The Governor may from time to time make regulations—

(a.)

For the conduct of the business of the Board:

(b.)

For determining the mode of appointment of the officers, servants, and persons employed by the Board:

(c.)

For the custody, control, direction, and management of the Dominion Museum, Dominion Art Gallery, Dominion Library, and the articles and works stored therein:

(d.)

For the printing and publishing of documents and papers pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and for prices to be charged by the Government Printer for copies:

(e.)

For any object or purpose which may be deemed necessary for the efficient administration of this Act.

Science and Art Act 1913