THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19867, 15 June 1927, Page 8

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sir,—ln my letter of June 7 on th® above subject, I did not say that I was surpirsed that J. 11.8. had not consulted me. I, in plain language, said: "If J.H.B. had come to me I would gladly have explained the position.” I did say that, as a member of the committee, he could see the chief Librarian and then see me to discuss the matter. From the tone of his letter and figures quoted therein, I judge that he has not seen her, otherwise he would not have written as he has done. I am not going to argue at length with J.H.B. My statements as to cost to the ratepayers are in no way misleading, as they are taken from the city balance sheets. The credit balance mentioned by J.H.B. was £2O 18s 6d and is carried forward to the present year, as is usual. Last year, the account started with a credit of £l5 16s. J.H.B. is in error when he says that cost of books has trebled. Nor has the membership increased threefold since 1921, the year quoted. I again say that economy in its most rigid form must be practised and that, in times of stress, no section of the community has any right to special privilege over others. J. SIDDEULS ‘ June 14.