PART OF COMMUNITY CENTRE ? Proposed Library May Cost £20,000

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1950, Page 2

PART OF COMMUNITY CENTRE ? Proposed Library May Cost £20,000

The Greymouth Borough Council may be involved in an expenditure of at least £20,000 if' its proposed plans for the erection of a new library building on the old Town Hall site are approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs. This figure was quoted by the Mayor, Mr F. F. Boustridge, at last evening’s meeting of the council when, he gave an outline of the council’s activities in relation to library rebuilding. Although, the present plans provided for the building to be incorporated in the proposed community centre scheme, as part of the town’s war memorial, -the Mayor stated that if the necessary permission could be obtained, the library would be withdrawn from the scheme, and dealt with as a separate project. He explained that the council was awaiting a reply from the Minister to its representations for a subsidy on the funds already available, as part of the insurance money received as a result of. the Town Hall fire in July, 1947, or for some other form of assistance from the Government, and until this was received no further progress could be made in the meantime. The Mayor pointed out that the proposed plan provided for a library with a floor space of 9900 square feet, which, with the present building costs in Greymouth estimated at £2 a square foot, would entail an expenditure of . approximately £20,000. Discussion on the ...matter arose when the matter of the installation of a new lighting system in the present library building was before the council, Cr P. Blanchfield. asking what progress had been made regarding a new library for Greymouth.

Details Of Progress “We have a scheme plan submitted by the chief of the library service in New Zealand, we have written to the Minister asking for some assistance or subsidies on funds raised for the erection of a library, and we are considering the provision of a regional library service for the West Coast,” replied the Mayor. “For this reason we think that some assistance should be given. As soon as a favourable reply is received from the Minister, we will call a special meeting of the council to discuss further action. “We have decided on the site and approval of this site can also be given at that special meeting,” continned the Mayor. “The question oi the removal or other disposal of the remaining buildings on the old Town Hall site can be discussed, but until we receive some reply from the Minister we can do no more. There are some funds available for the erection of a library, which is part of the community centre scheme., but we can go into it more fully when we get the Minister’s reply.” The Mayor went on to say that it a favourable reply was received from the Minister in regard to the community centre plans as a whole, a public meeting would be called immediately to go into the whole matter, as he did not think it would be fair that the council should put the available money into a community ■ centre unless the public was given an opportunity of knowing what was being done. Town Hall Fire Recalled “I was just wondering how long our ‘monument’ down there —what is left of the old Town Hall—is going to stand,” commented Cr J. E. Stokes. “It will be three years next month since we lost our own library and at the present rate of progress it will be another 12 months before we even consider the plans for the new library,” stated Cr F. Sadler. What if a favourable reply is not received from the Minister? Would it nor be better to put the matter before the public in the hope that a favourable reply will be received? By tying the new library scheme up with the war memorial, it will be at least five years before we get anywhere.” The fact that the community centre plan was part of the scheme to modernise the swimming bath was pointed out by Cr G. R. Harker. “Mr Alley (the chief of the New Zealand library service) is most enthusiastic about the library plan,' said the Mayor, adding that the plan was incorporated in the community centre scheme, but what was proposed at the swimming bath site was purely for physical purposes. A community centre is not complete unless the cultural aspects are also taken into consideration. By placing the library on the old Town Hall site we would be completemg the community centre scheme, as it is not necessary to have all the buildings together. It would be ridiculous to build a library in the vicinity of the swimming baths.” “Do you not agree that we would get the same consideration from the Minister if we were to push for a library?” asked Cr Sadler. “Pushing For Library” “We are pushing for a library,” stated the Mayor. “The plans are for a floor coverage of 9900 feet at an approximate cost of £20,000 and I do not see where we are going to get the funds without a subsidy. We are trying to push it through as a part of the community centre, but if we can get the library as a separate unit we will withdraw it from the community centre plan.” “It has already been accepted as part of the war memorial scheme,” commented Cr Blanchfield. The Mayor pointed out that by a resolution of the council the Town Hall site would be the site for the new library, which would be built as an “open shop site.” “It is a big area and it might not fit in with the other shops in that vicinity,” commented Cr H. Hutchinson. “If part of the site was sold, we- would need a lane leading to the rear of the library.” “The plans provide for the library to be kept at least 10 feet from the rear boundary of the site so that a lane can be built into the back of the library,” replied the Mayor. “Unless there is some sort of progress soon, I cannot see the library going up in the next five years,” commented Cr Blanchfield. “On the other hand, and taking into consideration the state of the council’s finances, a sfhall library would be better than a big one in the meantime.” Only Two Applications If a library was to be- built, he • felt that it may as well be a good one, said the Mayor. The council

was pushing the matter as far as possible, but until a- reply was received from .the Minister, nothing further could be done. Only two applications for assistance with library buildings had been lodged With the Government, and it was thought likely that they would be approved. “To my> knowledge it is the first time that the figure of £20,000 for a library has been mentioned,” stated Cr Blanchfield.

The Mayor pointed out, however, that'it had been estimated that building costs in Greymouth were £2 a foot. . ' - . “Even at £3 a foot, which would mean an expenditure of approximately £30,000, it would not be such a big loan,” commented Cr Harker. “I can remember the time when a sewerage loan of £60,000 was hard to get,” Cr Blanchfield said; “Is not a library just as essential as sewerage?” asked Cr Harker. The opinion that tentative plans should be drawn up and placed before the council at its next meeting was expressed by Cr Blanchfield. This action was not favoured by the Mayor, who pointed out that a scheme plan had already been made out and it was considered to be one of the most comprehensive .in New Zealand.

Scheme Plan Praised

“It has been shown to librarians all over New Zealand and each one has paid a compliment to the consideration given to the scheme,” said Cr. Sadler. “If it is accepted, it will be one of the most up-to-date libraries in New Zealand.” The scheme plan was available fbr inspection at any time and a report explaining the lay-out accompanied the plan, the Mayor said. After further discussion, the council decided to endeavour to have a reply from the Minister on the matter made available to the council at its next meeting. The matter of improving the lighting system in the present library building was left in the hands of the borough engineer, Mr A.. J. Fairmaid. On the motion of the Mayor, the council decided to send a letter of congratulation to the librarian, Miss E. Webster, on her radio addresses concerning the activities of the library service on the West Coast.

Greymouth Has First Call On Milk Supply

The fact that Greymouth had the first call on all milk handled by the Greymouth Milk Authority, regardless of the number of outside bodies affected, was disclosed by Cr J. E. Stokes at last evening’s meeting of the Borough Council, when an application for admission as a member of the Milk Authority from the Brunner Borough Council was befoxe the council. The letter stated that the Brunner borough received most of its milk from the treating house at Greymouth. As chairman of the milk committee Cr Stokes pointed out that if any other party wished to come into the authority, the committee had the right to accept it and have it gazetted.

“No Financial Interest” “A lot of people have not studied the Milk Act,” he said. “The position as far as the Greymouth milk committee is concerned is that it has the same powers as a metropolitan milk board but it has not the authority to raise loans. I would like to make it clear that the Borough Council has no financial interest in the committee it is merely carrying out an Act put through Parliament and is acting to see that the people of Greymouth have a sufficient daily milk supply. If the Milk Producers’ Association falls down on the job and there is not sufficient milk to supply the whole district, Greymouth has thb first call on the available milk, regardless of who else goes without. The. Brunner Council is seeking a similar position.” If the Brunner council was admitted, then the milk committee would have to make arrangements with the Milk Producers’ Association to ensure a sufficient supply daily to Greymouth and Brunner, said the Mayor, Mr F. F. Boustridge. Committee Membership

“Will the Brunner council be entitled to a member on the committee?” asked Cr G. R. Harker. “If we admit one, we might get applications from other bodies, such as Kumara and Hokitika, and we would be obliged to admit them.”

Cr Stokes pointed out that the committee had the right to limit its membership. “I think we should go very cautiously and hold this matter over for a month to see if any other applications come in,” stated Cr Harker. “If they do come, we may be forced to form a metropolitan milk board against our wishes.” It might be advisable for the council to hold the application over until it was ascertained whether the Milk Producers’ Association could supply the required amount of milk, commented the Mayor. “If the Milk Producers’ Association cannot supply the milk, we can impose a fine and the committee has the right to set up another association,” explained Cr Stokes. “I wane to make it clear that no matter who goes short, the town of Greymouth will always get its milk.” On the motion of Cr Harker, the matter was held over for a month to enable the committee to make the necessary inquiries.

RECREATION GROUND ISSUE: MINISTER’S REPLY TO LETTER Very brief reference to the already much-debated Recreation Ground issue was made at last night’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council, when a letter was received from the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie). ■ . The Minister acknowledged receipt of a letter from the council together with the resolution of the combinea meeting of the council and the Boaia of Managers of the Greymouth Technical High School and a copy of Miss Northcroft’s report. “I note your iequest for urgent attention and I Wil do what I can in this direction including, if possible, a visit by one or the highest officers of the department,” stated the Minister.