The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1909. THE CITY COUNCIL & THE NELSON INSTITUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 7 June 1909, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1909. THE CITY COUNCIL & THE NELSON INSTITUTE.

away by a narrow municipal policy of strict utilitarianism on which co nuny Councillors pride themselves, the loss to tho city in hard cash would demonstrate how penny wise and pound foolish it is to neglect the higher duties which should be performed by those elected to govern an important borough. • •.••• • Among those higher duties the maintenance, or a* least the encouragement, * of a publio library and reading room holds almost the first place. Yet it 1 1 - 1 — n « n .rnn^lnn rttrn-nftrh to 1.61---son for many years that many smaller places have better libraries, subsidised or conducted by the municipal bodies; and it is a noteworthy fact that with the exception of a sum of £26 granted by the last Council, scarcely a penny of municipal money hns been given to the Nolson Institute. Now, when at last it wds thought that this reproach was on the point of removal, the Council breaks faith, and on the plea of street maintenance requirements, endeavours to "go back" on its own deliberate and well considered action. -. It is sincerely hoped that the pressure of public opinion, which it is clearly seen is being justly brought to bear on the question, may lead to a change of at-, titude by the small majority who havo placed the Council in an awkward and embarrassing positioh. It is evident that some of the Councillors who voted against the ratification of the agreement covering the adopted subsidy of £150 per annum did not realise that they were stultifying themselves. Hence as the grant itself remains till formally rescinded, the way is still open for the Council to save itself from a mistake and yet avoid a retreat from an untenable position. It is trusted that the matter will be brought up again at the next meeting of the Council for final settlemept, and that in the meantime it will be shown that the chance of the city securing at a small cost a library and reading room worthy of it is one that should not be lost because of a narrow and parochial policy that looks no further than the needs of the hour.

I A SHORT-SIGHTED DECISION.

THE unexpected and uncalled for action of a majority in the City Council on Friday evening last, when an approved agreement covering an already granted subsidy of £150 a year to the Nelson Institute was rejected, has come as a painful surprise to the public and to the management of the Institute alike. The question of the grant was virtually settled by the last Council, and all that remained to be done was to obtain a legal opinion with regard to the ability of the Corporation to make the grant and to safeguard municipal interests by providing adequate representation on the Committee of the Institute. Several months ago . committees were appointed by the Council and the Institute management to confer and deviso a basis of a municipal subsidy to enable the Institute to rebuild on its Hardy-streot tite, and to provide a library and reading room worthy of the city and district. At the meeting of tho two committees the closest investigation into the affairs, rules, objects, assets, etc., of the Institute was made. It was shown to the Councillors that the rules had been amended so a* to popularise them very thoroughly ; that within the limits of the Institute's income a great deal had been done towards increasing the scope and usefulness of the public reading room and newspaper rooms and the circulating and reference libraries ; that with tho exception of the lending of books for removal the use of the libraries and reading rooms were absolutely free to the public: and that in the Council being given a representation on the management of one-fourth for a subsidy of £150 per annum the city was making an excellent bargain, and securing very cheaply a public library, the lack of which "has been a reproach and a stigma for years. « • * • • • Tho outcome of the negotiations ,an< investigation was that the committer * of tho Council recommended an annua grant of £160, hemmed around witl stringent conditions, and all that re mained to be settled was the term oi years during which the subsidy shoulc be paid. The vote was duly included in the year's estimates, and passed bj the Council. It was only .on the agreement, fixing the term for thirty years, coming up for formal ratification, that the surprise was sprung, and a small majority of the Council, foi quite inadequate, faulty, and shortsighted reasons, threw out the agreement, and thus re-opened the whole question of the subsidy. Ths position now is that the grant still stands, although no agreement covers or safeguards it, and that, in order to withdraw it, it will be necessary to give notice of motion to rescind tho resolution adopting tho year's estimates. In the r-ircumstances it may be incumbent on the Council to re-cast its annual estimates to distribute the sum of £150 thus withheld. It is fortunate that last Friday's ill-considered action did not give finality, for it will enable the Council to roview the position at leisure, . and realise, on second thoughts, that the withdrawal of the fiobsicly Ls clearly a breach of faith voicing a policy unworthy of the progress and destiny of the city. The main reason given by a section of the majority for withdrawing from the pledge to subsidise the Institute is that the money is needed for street maintenance. It may be readily admitted that .the streets ehould have mora spent on them, and that the means of the Council are limited while the rates continup on (their present basis. But it may also bo pointed out that during the past eight years the rales have increased by fully 75 per cent., that the assesment of property values has not contributed its fair share towards augmenting municipal revenue. Of the expenditure of the increased rates very little, if any, has gone towards promoting those attractions which are essential to a residential city such as Nelson. The place depends very largely on the clats of residents who, having moderate means but plenty of leisure, expect at least facilities and amenities of modern civilisation furnished by other towns of its size. If that class of residents were driven