New move on library plan

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 5

New move on library plan

The future looks grim for library services in Lyttelton after last Saturday’s decisive poll against the raising of a $lOO,OOO loan for a new library.

The Lyttelton Borough Council, at its meeting this week, was somewhat at a loss about what it could do to salvage the situation, but finally accepted the assertion of the Mayor, Mr J. B. Collett, that all was not completely lost and decided to hold a special meeting later this month to review whatever options remain open Cr R. H. Duff said that the council must accept the fact that it was not allowed to raise money for a library in Lyttelton on any site. The council must either get out of the present building or make it safe. Strengthening the building was estimated at $30,000 several years ago. It would now be well beyond the council’s resources, he said.

Even if strengthening was considered, the library would have to be relocated temporarily, and temporary accommodation had proved virtually impossible to find. At least two councillors were prepared to see the present building pulled down immediately.

Cr G. C. Adams said that he understood councillors were personally liable for claims arising from injury or death in the building, since they had long known the building to be unsafe. However, he agreed to delay putting a motion seeking the immediate demolition of the building until legal advise could be sought on councillors’ liabilities under the new accident compensation scheme. Mr Collett suggested that the council was to blame for the long delay in getting the library project underway. Had it not decided to build the new library on the central London Street site — the decision which had caused much of the public controversy — Lyttelton would now have had a new library on the site of the old library, and much more cheaply. The way was still open to go back to the people with a new library proposal, he added.

Cycling.—New Zealand's Vern Hanaray finished in sixth place in the 100 mile Pernod international cycling grand prix at Beaconsfield. England. P. Sherwin (Great Britain) won. Squash.—New Zealand’s Craig Blackwood (Auckland) defeated Manchanda of India. 9-7, 10-8, 9-0 in qualifying round matches of the open individual squash champiosnhips in Karachi.