WAR MEMORIAL LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17845, 28 July 1921, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL LIBRARY.

DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS.

A WIDE FIELD OF ACTIVITY. The first annual meeting of -the Mayoress' War Memorial Library Committee was held in the Council Chamber yesterday, Mrs. J. H. Gunson presiding. In reviewing the work of the year, Mrs. Gunson said this was really a continuance of the activities of the Literature Committee that had established such a fine record during the war. ' She appealed to all present to extend the work so that every organisation in the city would become responsible for the supply of literature to some particular section. Cordial appreciation of the work of the committee was expressed by Mr. A, GLunn, who spoke in high terms of the work of Miss Basten, organiser ~of the original Literature. Committee, to whose enthusiasm and -energy the success of the scheme was very largely due. Mr. H. Goldie also congratulated the committee on its work, mentioning that the men on H.M.S. Philomel and Chatham had expressed high appreciation of donations of literature received during the year. Mrs. F. Carr Rollett spoke of the need of extension of the work in backblocks districts, where the demand for literature was great. The report of the secretary, Miss Basten, embodied an appeal for better books and magazines for sick and disabled soldiers not in those homes and hospitals already provided for. " There are many such men we could profitably serve," stated the report, "and we would like to send them parcels of better quality than our shelves at present afford. We desire ; also, to put in a special plea for the veterans. Here we want to instal a suitable and worthy gift, something which will be appreciated not only by those valiant old veterans nearing the end of the journey, but by the younger veterans to follow. Then there are the warships and the training ships, the packings for which' are not up to the former standard."

The report of (he St. John Ambulance Committee stated that 769 books, 12J4 magazines, and a laTge quantity of papers had been distributed to various hospital institutions for the use of sick and disabled soldiers. The supply of reading matter to 200 soldier settlers .was now being considered. "'So far as supplies for sick soldiers are concerned," continued the report, " we are sadly in need of practically new magazines and a greater quantity of up-to-date periodicals. The claim of the sick soldier is no less now than it was during the war. and wo trust tbe public will repeat some Of their war-time generosity in the matter of giving us for these men literature of which we need not feel ashamed."

'flio reports of the Navy League and Flying Angel Mission Committees showed that a large number of books and magazines had been distributed among the men on the warships and in the mercantile marine. The Navy League had made the warships its chief consideration, and had forwarded to them over 700 book 3 and magazines and a quantity of papers during the year. The * Victoria League Committee reported that 780 books and magazines had been sent to country schools and v settlers, while a large bos and parcel of literature had been forwarded for the use of w r hite adults and children at Niue Island. Th e Civic League Committee report dealt with work on behalf of the children in hospitals and orphanages. A special effort was to be made to provide 600 orphans in the various Auckland homes with books by Christmas, and it was hoped the public would assist by donating children's books, either new or in good condition, for this purpose. The supply of literature to various homes and special institutions was dealtr with in the Philanthropic Committee's report', which stated that 900 books had been despatched. At the conclusion of the meeting those present visited the book room at the Town Hall, where details of the work of sorting and renovating were explained.