FUTURE CONTROL OF LIBRARY

Southland Times, Issue 23612, 13 September 1938, Page 2

FUTURE CONTROL OF LIBRARY

REQUEST TO COUNCIL

COMMITTEE FORMED TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL

The suggested assumption of control of the Bluff Athenaeum by the Borough Council is to be discussed by a committee appointed for that purpose at last night’s meeting of the council. The urgent need for the taking over of the library by the council was emphasized by the secretary of the Athenaeum Committee (Mr J. H. Young) in a letter. The letter stated:—

“At a meeting of the Bluff Atheneaum Committee held on August 23 I was instructed to ask your council to consider the taking over of the athenaeum, together With its endowments. “The council must realize that there is an urgent need for an up-to-date library and reading room in Bluff and my committee feels that this is an opportunity for the council to provide tins service for the benefit of Bluff residents. The present hall would serve as a public reading room and the library itself is well stocked with books and magazines. The institution is free, of debt and the endowments return satisfactory rentals. . “Unless the council takes an active controlling interest in the library it is not possible for the institution to enjoy any of the benefits under the country library scheme instituted by the present Government.” “This letter deserves our consideration,” said the Mayor (Mr John Cameron). “If the library is to benefit by the Government country library service, it must be giving a free service to the public. Apparently it cannot do this unless the council takes control. Unless it does receive assistance from the Government service, it cannot cater for the reading public, which is reported to be getting its books from other sources. It would be a pity if our libarry, which has been in existence since 1875, ceased to'function.”

Cr A. E. Budd moved that a committee be appointed to discuss the matter and report to the council. He suggested that the committee comprise and Mayor and Councillors G. E. Randall, G. Muir and O. F. Metzger. The motion was seconded by Cr Metzger, who said that the only cost would be in administration, and if a rate were imposed the’ public would not object as it would be getting reading material free of charge. The motion was carried. MONTHLY MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL At the monthly meeting of the Bluff Borough Council last night there were present:—The Mayor (Mr John Cameron) and Crs A. E. Budd, C. G. Pilcher, J. Ballantyne, G. T. Randall, W. P. Butler, O. F. Metzger, G. Muir and L. G. Newman. 7 An application for a refund of the rates for the ensuing year, amounting to £l5 5/-, was made by the secretary of the Bluff Sailors’ Rest (Mr E. A. Nichol). The application was granted. Mr L. A. Blackmore, secretary ofthe Southland Territorial Force Association, wrote asking if the council would make a grant to its funds. The letter was received. A 4

A report of his inspection of the parks, reserves, recreation areas and cemetery at Bluff was deceived from Mr B. P. Mansfield, superintendent of' reserves at Invercargill. It was decided that the report be referred to the Reserves Committee which would report to the council The town clerk was instructed to write to Mr Mansfield expressing the council’s appreciation of the thoroughness of his report. The assistant district public trustee wrote advising that another instalment of £l5OO on the Consolidation and Conversion Loan 1934 would be due on October 1.

A resolution calling up the amount from the sinking fund to meet the redemption was passed.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT The town clerk’s report for August stated that receipts from all sources totalled £2799 15/3 and expenditure amounted to £1703. Borough rates collected to the last discount day, August 31, including discount allowed, amounted to £1844 1/8, of a total of £4611 15/3, leaving a balance of £2767 13/7 yet to be. paid. An additional six dog registrations were made during the month, the total for this registration year now being 121, compared with 125 last year, the report continued. A total, of 251 motordrivers’ licenses had been issued since June 1, the total registrations for the previous year being 261.