THE ATHENAEUM.

Southland Times, Issue 17486, 29 July 1915, Page 2

THE ATHENAEUM.

To the Editor. Sir, —It must be manifest to all impartial observers that the present management of the Athenaeum has outlived its usefulness. The system Is not one that the founders of the institution contemplated should continue indefinitely, but only so long' as circumstances made the Imposition of subscriptions necessary to meet the expenditure for maintenance. This is clear from the ordinance under which control is exercised and which vests the management in a committee elected by subscribers —a management which must terminate when the institution becomes a free library and reading room. In such case it is provided that the control shall be transferred to the Municipal Council as the body representative of the community. It was plain from the action of the small number of subscribers in attendance at the meeting on -Monday evening that so far from the community as a whole being represented, only the interests of a diminutive section were entertained. Indeed, some of the speakers did not hesitate to assert that their consideration was on behalf of the comfort and convenience of'this section alone. Now that the question of the conversion of the institution into a free library and reading room lias received such cavalier treatment and the equitable offer of the Municipal Council rejected by a ridiculously small number of quite irresponsible persons, it will become the bounden duty of our borough representatives to see on behalf of citizens that the provision for vesting the institution in the Council is brought into operation. It is within the power of subscribers to do this, but clearly there is no disposition on the part of the present management to take any public-spirited action, and so recourse must be had to the Legislature, the members of which, when the circumstances are presented, will not hesitate to transfer the control so that the endowments and properties intended for the benefit of the whole community shall no longer be monopolised by a comparatively insignificant section. —I am. etc., A SUBSCRIBER. July 2S.