PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 9417, 12 June 1894, Page 2

PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION.

The meeting hold at the Town Hall last evening ''of those citizens interested in the matter of providing Dunedin with a free public library and reading room, and raising funds for that purpose by the holding of an industrial arts and crafts exhibition" was so meagrely attended that His "Worship the Mayor, who presided, must have half regretted that he had convened it, though he had done so by leiuest. At eight o'clock, the time appointed for opening the proceedings, there were not more than ten persons present, including one lady and the represent itivea of the Press, and at no time did the attendance exceed twenty. Among those present were the Hon. W. M. Bolt, Rev. D. Borrie, Messrs M. Cohen, George Esther, H. E. Muir, "W. C. Kirkcal.lv, J. Cara.lus, W. A. W. YVathcn, R. Clark, W. Hutchison, M.H.R., A. R. Barclay, and David Thomson. At a quarter-past eight 'J he Mayor proceeded to address those present, remarking that, as they knew the object and purport of the meeting, it was as well to proceed without further delay. He expressed himself as in thorough accord with the project of a free public libiary as well as of the industrial arts exhibition, and had the movement been adequately supported by the industrial classes and social workers it would undoubtedly have proved a thorough educational, social, and financial success. The idea was a most excellent one, but the attendance that evening was extremely discouraging to those who had labored so earnestly to bring the scheme to a practical issue. He animadverted upon the absence of the trades and labor element and of those individuals who are usually conspicuous in times of political strife; and opined that if those who had hitherto taken a deep interest in the matter continued to do so they must possess the hearts of lions. It was the second time such a meeting had been held, and in view of the poor attendance he questioned if it were w'se to ta e any further act on that night. Mr H. E. Mum, who spoko strongly in favor of the establishment of a free public library in the City and of the great benefits which would result from the holding of an exh bition such as was proposed, moved the following resolution (the con -lulling section being added on the suggestion of Mr Watiien) :—"That Mr R. Clark s proposal to raise funds for the establishment of a freo public library and reading room in Duned u by the holding of an industrial arts and crafts exhibition he approved, and a committee forthwith be appointed (with power to add to their number) to report to another meeting a month hence upon the financial aspect of the question," Ho complimented the mayor on having come out so strongly on the library question." The motion was seconded by Mr David Thomson, and carried unanimously. Mr Cohen said lie was there to explain the position of the Public Library Association in reference to this project. Several offers of assistance had lately been made to the Association, but they had declined to accept any that seemed likely to involve them in financial responsibility. The resolution had two aspects. It affirmed the necessity for a public library and reading room, whioh was generally acknowledged, and as a means to an end it approved of Mr Clark's industrial exhibition scheme. With regard to the latter the circumstances were in no way altered since Mr Clark had addressed th(J public regarding it, when he proposed devoting the funds to another public object. On that o casion the mayor had very forcibly and pertinently pointed out the initial difficulty—before either the public or those best in a position to push the thing forward could be induced to give their cordial assistance Mr Clark must sati-fy both that he had behind him something substantial if) the shape of a guarantee against a possible deficiency. If sucii a guarantee were assured the Library Association as a body would take the thing up con amorc and assist him all in their power, but till that assurance was forthcoming they must hold aloof; nor would it do for them to lend themselves to obtaining funds in the name ot their project for the purpose of running the exhibition unless there was a guarantee against any possible loss in connection with the latter. As' to the mayor's remarks in regard to the library itself, he (Mr Cohen) was glad to hear His Worship speak so scrongly. His Worship was ex officio president of the Library Associar tion, and in that capacity had assisted them 5 but his remarks that night would help the movement materially. It was only fair %o His Worship to say that among the Council he was one of the first to advocate the project. He and the mayor had disagreed as to the mode of carrying it out and as to the steps that had been taken to ascertain the feelings of the ratepayers thereon ; but he (Mr Cohen) was free to confess that the mayor had been right in his 'c.ohtchtiohthat a free library ought to bcentirely under the jurdisdiotiori of"ai)e* be controlled by the City Council.—(Hear.) That was the goal for whibh he (My Cohen) intended in future to work, as he was satisfied that the Athenamm Committee, as now constituted, would not entertain the proposals for ama'gamatkm, nor could the necessary majority of subscribers for that' be obtained under present conditions. As for the absence of representative workers, he (Mr Cohen) was neither discouraged nor- disqui&tiad i" consequence. It by no means followed that their absence betokened want of jsyinpatliyTor'tfi'e Eirarv mo-yemeni. The fact #as that the working'peop'ic and 'those who contended that itfye library'was ijk necessity Were looking forward with 'deejjv anxiety to another movement now before the publip; and jf the promise made by His Worship that every

subscriber to the Stuart memorial fund should have an opportunity of deciding the final destination of that fund were loyally given effeot to there would be no reason to complain of lack of interest on the part of the workers. He (Mr Cohen) ventured to assert that they would attend in such numbers that that hall would not be large enough to hold them. As proof of his contention that the general public were in .hearty sympathy with the library movement he cited his own experience as a collector for the Stuart fund. For every crown he had been able to get tor a statue there were more than ten and in some cases even twenty times that sum forthcoming for a public library, whilst some people flatly refused to give a farthing for a statue, but were prepared to subscribe liberally if assured that their donation would go to the library fund.—(Applause.) Mr Clark entered at considerable length into the prospects of the exhibition, which he has so pertinaciously advocated, and said that he had been promised the active co-operation of almost all the associated artisan bodies in the City, and was sanguine of the success of the undertaking. He wanted by their action that night to be put in such an official position as would warrant his going round to merchants and other gentlemen of standing in order to obtain their practical heir). Mr Clark concluded by proposing a committee (the names of which he gave) to carry out the object of the meeting, which was unanimously agreed to. The Mayor, without wishing to throw cold water on the undertaking, reminded them that the whole success of the endeavor depended absolutely on ways and means. He counselled them not to go blindfolded into the matter, but. to secure the co-operation of the leading men of Dunedin's industrial army and of the leading master workers. It also behoved them to exercise groat care lest the failure of the exhibition scheme should injure the more important one ][of the free library. He had doubts as to the success of the former at the present juncture, local tradesmen just how being short of work. A vote of thanks to His "Worship for presiding brought the meeting to a close, and in acknowledging the vote, His "Wokshif said lie was at all times ready to assist either the public library or the industrial exhibition movement. Both were good things in their way, but the former was undoubtedly the more important and more required of the two. Though he disagreed with some people as to the means to be adopted for obtaining a public libraiy, he was at one with them in thinking that Dunedin should possess such an institution, and acknowledged the benefits that it would confer. Though by reason of his many public engagements he not undertake to act on tho Committee that had been set up, he would ireoly place tho Council Chamber or any of the committee rooms at their disposal, and assist them in any other way in his power.— (Apphuso.)