GERALDINE THE LIBRARY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21089, 15 July 1938, Page 3

GERALDINE THE LIBRARY

NO GRANT FOR BOOKS COUNCILLOR RESENTS CRITICISM Strong exception to remarks made by the chairman (Mr P. M. McKenzie) and Mr H. A Robertson at a meeting of the Library Management Committee regarding the alleged apathy of the Geraldine Borough Council towards the library was taken by Cr. P. H. Davis at the monthly meeting of the Council on Wednesday evening. A matter arose when a letter was read from Mr J. McGuigan, honorary secretary of the committee, applying for a grant to cover tire cost of the maintenance of the public reading room In accordance with the Council's resolution of November 10 last. The committee’s estimate of the cost was as follows; Threequarters of lighting £l2/18/7) say £9, papers, magazines, etc., for public reading room £9/10/2, cleaning, attending to lights, etc., £26, total £44/10/9 it seemed difficult to get the cleaning and supervision of the public reading room done for less than £26, as attending to the lights was a big tie. It might be added that the Library Committee had under consideration a p an for the more efficient supervision oi the public reading room. Mr McGuigan asked if the Council could see its way cleai to grant a further small sum towards the purchase of books as *ne £44 10/2 quoted above would not help the library at all. The Mayor (Mr J. R. Lack) remarked that a um of £4O ..ad been allocated in the Borough estimates for the library. He did not see how the Council could increase that amount as, if they did. they w'ould be in a worse position in regard to the library than they had been before. They had gone into the matter very thoroughly, and he felt that £4O was as much as the Council could possibly contribute rhe Council had done what it had promised to do It fad never been asked to provide for books in the first place, nor had it been intended that they should be asked for books Cr H W. W Williamson: While anxious to help the Library Committee. Council members fully realise they could not go over the £4O estimate. The Council has gone into the financi 1 position most exhau. lively, but our funds are restricted, and we want to be fair to ali the ratepayers. Cr. H Russell: The members of the library deputation who waited on the lODEX COBALISED CONCENTRATED MINERALS. FARMERS MIX YOUR OWN UUb. Al HALF i’HE COS'l MINERAL SUPPLIES. Box 73, TIMARU.

Council assured us that the membership would increase to such an extent ' that the library would be self-support-ing. The Mayor: We want to sec a good library, but wc cannot saddle the whole of the ratepayers to pay lor the maintenance of the library They all knew the difficult position the Council had been in, and they had raised the rates as high as they could in order to meet the estimated expenditure which had been kept as low as possible. Ci. 11. Russell (chairman oi the Finance Committee): I certainly do not see how we could grant the Library Committee any more. Cr. Williamson: I am definitely of that opinion. Cr P. 11. Davis: s he matter is clear cut. The Council is fully extended as far as finances are concerned. On the motion of Crs. Davis and Williamson the Town Clerk (Mr C. L. Kirby) was instructed to reply to the Library Committee that, while appreciating the services of the committee, the Council regretted that -I could not exceed the limit oi the £4O grant provided in the estimates. Exception to Remarks Cr. Davis: I take ‘rong exception to a statement made at a meeting of the Library Management Committee. Mr Robertson is reported t< have said: ■ The Council did net appreciate the fact that the library had been taken over by a voluntary committee who were endeavouring to put it on a sound basis. It seemed as if the Council rejoiced to think that they had got i’.d of the responsibility of the library, and yet were not prepared to do anything to assEt in the purchase of books. It appeared a very unsympathetic attitude.” “It was an utterly unfair statement,” continued Cr. Davis, “and as long as I am a member of the Council I am opposed to taxing the ratepayers any further to give the benefit to those who are fond of reading. The Council appreciates what the Library Committee is doing but the members should weigh their statements before making I such remarks. If Mr Robertson were a alepayer he would perhaps view the matter in a differer* light. The chairman (Mr P. M. McKenzie) of the Library Committee had also said hat the rate struck to provide £2OG a year (to convert the library to a free i.brary under the Go.eminent Country Library Sch.‘me 1 was infinitesimal. If Mr McKenzie ;at at this Council table he would know that in a small Borough like this £2OO would go a long way in .eneral maintenance work.” Cr. E. N. Hannah: To produce E2OC we would have, to strike a library rate of lid in the £. At the request of Mr M. Baker Ihon. treasurer oi the Library Committee) the . Town Clerk read the following I paragraph from the library meeting ! report: "The chairman (Mr McKenzie) I said that at present the Council was hard pressed financially, but he had no doubt that the councillors would I give practical help as soon as funds I permitted. Mr Russell (Council representative) agreed that that was the

The Mayor: It is very pleasing tc see that a councillor has brought the matter up, and that he has not spoken without due consideration. We cannot go above the amount which we have put on the es imates. We sympathise with the Library Committee, but we understood when they took over the library that they would be able to increase the subscriptions so that it would become self-supporting. The matter was not liscussed further.