THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 185, 8 February 1896, Page 2

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The champion of the wretched old state of affairs in Library matters is, unfortunately, not in sympathy with the institution, has no knowledge of its working, and never enters its doors— this by his own confession. How futile, then, to argue. To have a well appointed place we must bave healthy finance ; to obtain subscribers we must give value for their money as we now do for the rate ; to use magazines to advantage we must have a room for them. Surely this needs no reiteration to those who have enjoyed tbese privileges at any creditable Library in other places. We will indeed be glad to supplement the Library rate by .£lO or £15 in subscriptions from every little village by sending £5 worth of our well read books. It is hard to see the object of this factious opposition to the best interest of so worthy an institution from a few of those who know that they now, for the first time, get value for their penny in the pound — one would think the Committee, who give time and thought so cheerfully, were a selfish lot of spoilers of the people I Perhaps onr opponent woald become one of these on the retirement of our worthy Treasurer. A public institution needs public vindication only when it has been publicly vilified, hence this second letter. — Kua niutu tdku kore?^. I am, &c, That Abusive Chairman.