THE LIBRARY

Southland Times, Issue 18965, 13 June 1923, Page 5

THE LIBRARY

COUNCIL REFUSES GRAIft CONTENDS THAT FINANCIAL AID IS GIVEN. A LENGTHY DISCUSSION. An item in the special report of th* Finance Committee last evening in regard to the Public Library, recommending that £92 be taken off the contingencies (which would then be estimated at £3O), and replaced under the heading (rates on Library building), and further, that the transfer of £2OO from the general account be deleted, and that in consequence, the allocation fo> library books be reduced from £BOO tc £6OO. The matter was introduced by Councillor Macalister, who drew attention to a leader published in the Southland Times, of Monday morning, in regard to the Municipal finances to which he thought some public reference should be made, though as a rule he did not attach much importance to what appeared in print. In his opinion, some of the remarks were fairly strong, and the article, he contended, was entirely misleading. The position, he said, was that the, oustanding liability of £2977 was part of the antecedent liability and this along with the other liabilities totalling £44000, was being liquidated by the £30,000 han and the balance by instalments each year. It had been stated that the Council wat getting money from the Library, but thr position was that the town was being ratec for the library. Then again the library received generous assistance in the mattes of clerical assistance, its books were kept and the reports made out for which £75 was paid, so that it would be safe to say that the town was supporting the library every year to the extent of £4OO. It was never intended that the sum suggested should be given every year, nor that it was to be taken as a precedent, as it was distinctly understood it was to tide them over a specific difficulty.

Councillor Boyes opposed the adoption of the clause. It was rather a surprise to the Committee, as it was never contemplated that the £2OO would not be available. The position was that the Library was in no better position, financially, now than last year. He was very much of opinion that during the last few years the Library had been starved.

Councillor Webb said that Councillor Macalister had not been very convincing in the matter of the generous support accorded the Library by the Council. The Library was an important thing for the town and various improvements had been introduced which were of great benefit to the whole community. He considered that the money spent in the past by the Council was very well spent and the more attractive the institution was made the more support it would receive.

Councillor Miller stated that he did not in any way wish to stop the progress of the Library and he disagreed with the statement that the institution had been starved. Councillor Meek said that Councillor Webb had stated the position fairly, but he agreed with Councillor Miller that it waa not right that it should go forth that the Library was being starved. The Mayor said that the Library waa receiving good treatment. It must not be forgotten, he said, that the £2OO over which there had been so much talk by some members, who seemed to think that this was to be an annual payment cn the pledge of a previous Council was not to be taken as a precedent. There was nothing in that assumption. “I am,” he said, “the only one here that sat at this table, when the conference between the old committee and tjie Council took place in connection with the £2OO. We had been trying to get the Athenaeum under the control of the Council so as to obtain a free reading room for the people, and the Committee ap proached the Council and suggested that if the Council paid the Committee £2OO, it would provide a reading room free to the public. Both the parties were unanimous on this proposal, and a resolution to this effect was passed. The Council carried out the resolution and agreed to pay over £2OO annually, but what did the Committee do ? Two of the members who sat here and voted immediately went to work and gathered all the proxies and went to the annual meeting and voted it out. That is the position of the £2OO and ended the agreement. The Council then set to work and got a Bill prepared and took over the Athenaeum. This was necessary on account of the endowments granted in the early days and should give sufficient to carry on. On that ground, I object to the £2OO being placed on the Estimates. I object as well, to the Committee considering it as a right because a previous Council had promised it. There is also the question of who is going to be responsible for anything that may arise during the year. The Council would certainly have to come to its assistance and pay for it. I do not think it can be said that the Institution is being starved when you consider that £llOO is being made available this year for the purchase of books and periodicals and for building purposes. Why, the year before it was taken over by the Council the expenditure was only £286.55 Several Councillors objected and interjected that the price of books was ever so much higher now. Councillor Glass said the £2OO was somewhat of a bogey and he would not like it to interfere with the work of the Library. It was perfectly true that the reading room was second to none, though in his own opinion the -same could not be said of the reference section. Certainly it was many times improved than it was soma years ago, though many sections, particularly that relating to social science, were in a very poor state. Most of the money at present was being spent on works of fiction, and the great bulk of the readers were interested in that portion alone. He was going to move as an amendment, that the amount of the vote be reduced by £lOO leaving out altogether the question of the £2OO and thus give the Committee an opportunity of spending a little more on the reference branch. Councillor Geddes seconded the amendment. Councillor Miller asked if any information was available as to how the money was to be spent. The amendment was then put but lost by 8 votes to 3, and the recommendation of the Committee carried.