THE PITY OF IT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1908, Page 5

THE PITY OF IT.

, _ » i_ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is a wet afternoon 2 s and the "buildings in course of erection in and around1 the town, which on fine days teem with life, are dese/ted.. And where are the Avorkers? ' Some there are with homes of their own, but the majority of the ' building tradesmen are single men, newcomers to olir town. Possibly most of these young men are shut up in their Hreary boarding-houses, but the .probability is that they will be found in the hotels and billiard saloons(which, latter our wise and benevolent Council has allowed to spring up in our midst), and whose open doors .are always ready to welcome those with coin to spend. But what of our library and free reading-room! Are not these also open to welcome those who would spend their spare time in profitable enjoyment and in th© pursuit of knowledge? 'No, sir; bolted, barred'and locked, our Literary Institute stands cold and forbidding. It is not a revenue-producing concern, therefore it must not be allowed to enter into competition with the hotels and billiard saloons, whose license fees are a source of income .to' the Borough. A glance at the notice-board on the Institute wall ! conveys the information that the building is open for four hours on three days in the week. Just fancy, twelve hours out of one hundred and sixty-eight, for wholesome pleasure and profitable relaxation ! Seriously, sir, one can hardly believe that our I city fathers are fully seized of the great trust placed in their charge. Surely they must realise that, on a I higher plane than the making of ! roads and bridges, is the moral welfare of our town, and what better and cheaper means to his end can j there possibly be than the free use of a well-equipped library and read-ing-room open at all reasonable times. Yours, etc., DAWN. Blenheim, June 12.