MUTILATION OF MAGAZINES IN THE ATHENÆUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12831, 27 November 1903, Page 8

MUTILATION OF MAGAZINES IN THE ATHENÆUM.

10 THE JSDITOR. Sir—The following nqtico, stuck up in the smoking room of the Athenteum, deserves some- attention from .frequenters of that room and from subscribers generally: " NoMe:.—As tho oommittoo has reason to believo' that magazines are being mutilated in the smoking - room, members are requested to'endeavour to prevent the practice, otherwise the ■ committee will hive .to prohibit magazines being removed from the reading room." Tho shock this notice gives to those who habitually observe Sane rules of grammar, and convey their. meaning, spoken or written, in unmistakable terms, is not greater than usual in athenteum notices; and I pass on to the subject of tho notice, I am in the smoking room several times a week at various hours of the day, aaict I know the onus of subscribers who frequent it. I ask the oommitlco to disclose its reasons for believing that magazines are mutilated there, einco it says they exist, and take steps to sheet tho offence home. Until it does so I shall' say, and .so shall very many, that this attempt to fasten a,.practice idiicb, wascommon during all the years before there was a. smoking room upon those who now use itj is an insufferable- insult. The: conservative committee of the Athennium took all sorla of credit for giving Way to prcs-. Euro to provide that accommodation, but it is surrounding the privilege with vexatious restrictions, and now proolaims its belief that tho smoking room is tho 'resort of thieves. That is what Jt mea.ua.. It, waa supposed that the proceeding at last annual meofcing would somewOiat liberalise the views of the committee, buf that has not been tho result. Subscribers wild -have to make a stronger and' more united attempt next opportunity. Meantime the oommitteo had better keep an eye upon that notice to prevent it* bring, like—Tours, etc., , , November 26. Muti;ated.