The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1935. UNSEEMLY HASTE

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1935. UNSEEMLY HASTE

The cry for the abolition of the right to reserve books in a public library is invariably supported by the declaration that favouritism in some form exists, but experience has shown that its abolition usually leads to conditions much less desirable, and so most libraries which have done away with reservations have reinstated them after a short trial. This happened in Invercargill, and Councillor Reed, the chairman of the Library and Baths Committee, is aware of that fact. So is the Mayor, and it is unfortunate, therefore, that the new councillors, in the face of Councillor Reed’s request for more time for the consideration of this matter, should proceed with such precipitation, especially as revenue amounting to £24 is involved, at a time when the funds available to the library are insufficient. It is customary for the Mayor to use his casting vote in a manner that will leave the question open, and the motion to refer the matter back to the Library Committee would have done this, giving the council an opportunity to protect itself against some hasty findings. An examination of the library statistics may have led to a modification of the view that reservations have caused the falling-off in the number of subscribers, and would have modified, too, the view that the falling off is large enough to make rush action necessary. There are so many points to be considered that a newly-installed committee might have taken a little more time, and given more heed to the opinions of those who have had more experience of the library’s affairs. A statement at the council table gave a hint that the information gleaned by the staff of the library indicated a preference for reservations by a very large number of the present subscribers, and surely the wise course would have been to have looked into this matter before rushing to a decision satisfactory to the personal tastes of a section of the council. Councillor Reed, who declares that he is against reservations, was made cautious by the result of the previous experience following the abolition of this right, and the new councillors should have acceded to his request for more time. But if they were unwilling to inform themselves fully before acting, the Mayor should have saved the council’s reputation for considered judgment by using his casting vote in the manner approved by most authorities: to preserve existing conditions while leaving open the way for decisive action.