NEWSPAPER CLIPPING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1705, 19 December 1919, Page 5

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING.

ALLEGATION AGAINST MR AYRTON

COUNCIL TO PROSECUTE

At lust night's mooting of tho Borough Council a letter was received from the librarian of the Public Library, Mr C. E. Sliortt, containing -a statement that Mr Moses Ayrton had been seen extracting u clipping from a library newspaper file. The letter was as follows: —"I liavo tho honour to report that on Monday, December 8, 1918, Mr Halo, who is a frequent visitor to tho Public Library, called . my attention to a newspaper— tho Grey Itiver Argus, dated November 28—from which a cutting had been taken. On asking Mr-Halo if ho hud seen anyono mutilating, tho gaper, ho informed mo that on Saturday' night he was reading a paper close to .tho Grey River Argus, and had Been Mr Moses Ayrton cutting out the pieco that is missing from same. Herewith 1 hand vou the paper from which tho cutting lias been taken." At the.foot of the letter was a certificate, to the effect that tho above was a correct statement signed by Maurice Hale, WillbwtWk, Church street, I'almerstou North. ' The paper was attached,, showing that the clipping- had boon taken from tho "Political Pars." Cr. Boftla, chairman of the Library CcAnmittee,. to whom tho letter was addressed, said that it was a serious matter. The librarian hud complained on several occasions that 'clipping from newspapers was going on. It was a difficult thing to detect culprits in the act. The matter should not be allowed to pass, and he would move that. the.Borough solicitor should be instructed to prosecute. Cr. Eliott', as a member of tho Library Committee, considered that action should bo taken ■irrespective of whom the offender was.-' •If it was his own brother he would not hesitate to take drastic action. Ho also referred to the penalty imposed on a certain person recently for having taken roses.from the Square gardens, and considered: that tho police should bo com- > mended for their vigilance and the action taken. > ■■ . . ■ . . , , Cr Crabb also.expressed tho opinion that a prosecution should bo instituted, and that no exceptions should bo made. Cr Spooner wished to modify tho action somewhat: He suggested that if a strongly worded letter was sent to Mr Ayrton it would be sufficient. Tho Council would not bo anxious to press for damages even if it did prosecuto. . Cr Boale rose to uphold his contention. A prosecution, ho said, would, be much more effective in giving he affair tho publicity which it demanded. Tho motion was then put to tho meeting and carried, so that a prosecution will bo commenced against Mr Ayrton.