ATHENAEUM COMMITTEE

Southland Times, Issue 17468, 7 October 1913, Page 7

ATHENAEUM COMMITTEE

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Athenaeum Committee was held last evening, there being present Messrs W. A. Stout (President). Carswell, Pearce, Mehaffey. Robertson, Bicknell, Cochrane, and Hlskens. The Librarian’s report, which stated that 4418 books had been issued, and that new ’books received during the month of September totalled 51, was received. It was resolved to procure a copy of the recently appointed poet laureate, Dr Bridges’s poems. It was decided to grant free tickets to the most promising pupils of each school, as had been done in previous years. The following entry under, the name of Mr AV. G. Gilchrist, and endorsed by several other subscribers, came up for discussion —“A large number of the new novels, which arc placed on the Athenaeum shelves, arc so rubbishy and uninteresting, that tiicy do not justify their purchase. He suggested that only those novels which had a .reasonably high recommendation from established critics be bought. That would permit of more copies of those that are certain to be popular being procured. This system would not cost any more than the present one, and members would not have to wait so long for a chance of reading the better issues." Oh the motion of Air T. D. Pearce, the following was entered in the suggestion book in reply—“ The Committee has found by experience that critiques of novels are most misleading. The matter referred to by Mr W. G. Gilchrist is one that has been under the serious consideration of the Committee for'a considerable time, and the Committee makes the best selection possible; but the difficulty is that novels of outstanding merit are not being produced in any considerable number. The Committee wil! be pleased to have any’tangible suggestion erf tbp subject from subscribers, and is at all times pleased to consider favourably any books suggested by subscribers." Mr Quinn was appointed an additional member to the Library Committee. ' Accounts amounting to £St Is 4d were passed for payment.