DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22086, 16 April 1935, Page 3

DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS

LIBRARY LEAGUE WORK IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES An improved financial position was reported by Miss Alice Basten, secretary of the Mayoress' War Memorial Library League, at the annual meeting of the league held in a committee room in the Town Hall last evening. The Mayoress, Mrs. G. W. Hutchison, presided. The league acknowledged with gratitude a further grant of £SO from the Prosperity Fund toward the work lor the relief camps. Miss Basten pointed out. however, that another £4O would have to be raised during the next few months to enable the league to close the current year 011 the same financial footing. An interesting visitor to the league had been Mr. Stewart, the school master from Nine Island, who had personally stressed the keen appreciation of his colleagues and the children of the committee's work. He had asked if the league could supply an old football and punehball, but owing to the enthusiasm of members, it had been possible to send him almost immediately two brand new article, one being donated by St. John's Ambulance committee and the other by members of the executive.

In closing her report Miss Basten expressed her appreciation, as well as that of the members, of the personal interest taken by the Mayor and Mrs. Hutchison iu the league's activities, and of the very practical way in which they had eased the financial burden. The special request section of the league was reported still to be very popular. Out of the 580 books classified, there were 3025 asked for, while some lonely people had on their lists over 100 books for which the league could send them only 12. The section had 24 children's specials, which were asked lor 274 times. The favourites were

" Tom Brown's Schooldays," " Anderson's Fairy Tales," " Alice in Wonderland " and " Uncle Tom's Cabin."

The fact that the work of the league had gone on year by year since the war showed that a definite need for such an organisation existed, Mrs. Hutchison said in her presidential address. The work had increased considerably since the relief camps came into being, but substantial grants from the Prosperity Fund and the Metropolitan Unemployment Relief Committee to help cope with this extra work, had been deeply appreciated. A report of the total output of literature during the year was as follows: Hard-bound books, 5286; magazines, 7521; children's books and magazines, 633; school books, 40; scrap books, large, medium and small, 606; illustrated papers (approximately), 10,000; calendars, made and sent out, 310; playing cards, 15 packs; cards, 768; music (songs and pianoforte), 90; toys, 332; parcels, 1387; large case to Niue Island, including toys and Christmas cards, 250.

Reports of sub-committees showed that a wide field was covered by the league, books and other reading matter

being distributed to hospitals, rest homes, orphanages, back-block settlers, schools, relief camps, the Makogai Island leper station, mental hospitals, tuberculosis huts, lighthouse dwellers and people living in Niue Island. As this was the last occasion upon which Mrs. Hutchison would preside over the meeting in her capacity as Mayoress, opportunity was taken to thank her for her interest in the league. She was presented with a vase and a bouquet. Miss Basten was the recipient of a bouquet as a token of the members' appreciation of her work as honorary secretary. Prior to the serving of supper in an adjoining room, the plav " Rosalind " by J. M. Barrie, was read by Val Anderson as Dame Quickly, Trixie Abel as Mrs. Page, and Peter Bathurst as Charles Roche.

The death of Mrs. Francis Fletcher, the oldest working member of the league, was referred to by Mrs. Hutchison, members standing in silence. A motion of sympathy with Mrs. H. S. Phillips in the loss, of her mother was also passed.