OPEN SPACES V. LIBRARIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1912, Page 15

OPEN SPACES V. LIBRARIES

When the Housing of the Working Classes Bill, presented by Sir Arthur Grifnth-Boßcawen, was further considered by th© Standing Committee of I the House of Commons, an amendment by Mr. Iveir Hardie to omit from a Government amendment to clauso 4, relating to the use of land acquired, a provision giving permission to the local authority to sell land, was rejected by 20 to 11 votes. ( Mr. Wedgwood held that if small local authorities were given power to buy and 6ell and deal in land, they would have tremendous opportunities for jobbery and corruption. He suggested that preference in selling should ,be given to public utility societies. Mr. Burns (President of the Local Government Board), declined ''to accept any such compromise. He 'believed the time had come when men' Were tired of drenching the country with'^piiblic librariee, and wero beginning' to realise that email gardens, parks, and* opon spaces wefo iniinitely better for the- people. He was not disposed to give to & public utility Koeiety wtat ho would not give to a private individual, who might be disposed to be even' more generous.