PASSAGE-AT-ARMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19867, 15 June 1927, Page 10

PASSAGE-AT-ARMS

COUNCIL AND LIBRARY POSITION UNCHANGED. A deputation from a recent meeting of subscribers to the Wanganui library waited on the City Council last evening and. asked that their views concerning the rearrangement of the library staff receive consideration. Mr F. Bevan said he thought that the interests of the subscribers who were finding the greater portion of the cost of the library were not being fairly conserved. The staff was an efficient one, but should the staff be cut down, the general efficiency would be impaired. Seeing that subscribers were willing to pay an extra 2s it was fairly evident that they particularly desired the efficiency of the Library to be maintained. Mr T. H. Rice said that when the library was handed over the understanding was that there would be two representatives of the subscribers on the Library Committeee and three from the City Council. Mr Siddells said that the cost of the library was £lBOO a year, and of that the subscribers found £l2OO. A Matter of Appointments. In accordance with notive given, Cr W. M. Falconer moved that the following resolution embodied jn the Library Committee’s report be rescinded: “That the first assistant librarian be dispensed with, her present salary being £lBO per annum.” Cr. Falconer said that the first assistant of the Library, Miss Keogh, had been on the staff for 4} years and had rendered good service. The proposal was to dismiss her, but if there was to be any retrenchment there was another member of the staff who could go, and that was Miss Burr. He was sorry to have to bring names into the matter, but such could not be avoided. Miss Burr’s appointment, at £lO4 a year, had been agreed to when all the Library Committee wanted was a junior at £52 a year. A little while later Miss Burr’s salary had been raised by 10s a week. It might be unfortunate that Miss Burr was a relative of Cr. Burnett’s, but Cr. Burnett had advocated Miss Burr’s appointment. Cr. Burnett: I voted for Miss Keogh. Cr. Falconer: I was present at th? committee meeting myself. Continuing, Cr. Falconer said that it might be stated that the dismissal of Miss Keogh was the result of the re. commendation of Miss Blackett, the chief librarian, but she was practically bullied into it.

Cr. J. T. Worry (leaping in his chair): Oh, you fibber! Cr. Falconer: How could she do other wise? Cr .Burnett had the backing oi' the Progressive Party . The Mayor asked Cr. Falconer not to bring the name of any party into the discussion, and the councillor withdrew the remark. A remark made by Cr. Falconer about “farming out Cr. Burnett’s pet baby, the Commercial Bank lease,” could not be distinctly heard at the Press table. The Mayor: Cr. Falconer, I ask you not to refer to the Commercial Bank lease. “Let him go for it for all he is worth,’’ cut in Cr. Werry, “he doesn’t know what he is talking about.” “Not a Bully.” Cr. Burnett: Vindictiveness! Cr. Werry; I am not a buliy! The Mayor: Cr. Werry, please don’t interrupt-. Cr. Worry: He accuses me of being :i bully! The. Mayor: Cr. Werry, please don’t interrupt! Cr. Werry apologised to the chair, and Cr. Falconer withdrew his remark about the Commercial Bank lease. Cr. C. W. Poynter seconded Cr. Falconer’s motion.

Cr. Burnett said that when the question of retrenchment was discussed he had suggested that the last junior appointed should go, but Miss Blackett had said she considered that the junior should be retained and some other appointee dismissed. Neither Crs. Worry or Siddells knew when Miss Burr’s appointment had been made that she was a relative of his. No interests or prejudices had been brought to boar in making the appointment. The qualifications of Miss Burr had been so high that she could not be overlooked. Cr. Falconer had hurled his attack because certain phases of the estimates to be considered later in the evening were not to his liking. Cr. Burnett withdrew this remark at the request of the Mayor. Cr. Siddells said Cr. Falconer had made the matter very easy by showing bad taste. Proceeding, he said that economies had to be faced. Miss Blackett would not give the committee a lead in the matter and they were led to believe that the junior was the smartest girl in the library. He believed Miss Blackett was a very capable woman who was doing her work well. The ratepayers were being “bled white” in Wanganui.” Cr. Siddells, at the request of the Mayor, withdrew his remark that the ratepayers had been “bled white,” the Mayor pointing out that it was an aspersion on the Council’s employees. The Mayor asked Cr. Werry whether he wished to make reply. Cr. Werry: Your Worship, I have nothing whatever to say. The motion was put to the meeting and lost. It was supported by the Mayor, and Crs. Falconer, Rogers and Poynter.