AN OLD COLONIST.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1938, 11 May 1880, Page 2

AN OLD COLONIST.

Lyttelton, Mr.y 11th, 18S0.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib, —I would through your columns ask tho ratepayers of Lyttelton not to be misled by any of tho specious arguments which have been used to induce tho ratepayers to adopt the Libraries Act, and take over tho above society. It is urged that by so doing the library and reading-room will ba more free than they have boon hitherto. This I think it is easy to disprove. When the old committee, as they aro called, vrera in office tho reading room was thrown open not merely to the ratepayers, but also to the public generally, the result being that it was crowded every evening. The member’s subscription was then £1 per annum, which entitled him to take books out for the use of himself and family. Shortly after Mr Joyce and his colleagues took office they closed the reading room to the public, then they closed tho institution in tho day time, till latterly it has been only open for a few hours of an evening. The committee have quietly sat down with their hands in their pockets expecting that they would be able to carry on the institution without taking any trouble ss to ways and means. Jfow they apparently find that this will not do, and they have determined if possible to get the ratepayers to take the burden off their shoulders without consulting the wishes of the subscribers generally. They say to tho ratepayers you will only have to pay a rate of one penny in the pound. Supposing this to be so, how does it affect the committee themselves. They aro ten in number, and under the present system have to pay one pound each per annum to bo members, therefore they pay £lO between them towards tho support of the institution. I took the trouble to ascertain what amount they were rated for, and collectively I find they aro rated to the extent of £240, so that they would only pay one pound between them under the Act. Mr Joyce staled it would cost about £350 to carry on tho institution in the way he proposed if the town took it over. Kow, the penny rale would realise about £IOO ; where would tho balance come from ? It is all very v. e'.l to talk about 3-ovornmcnt subsidies, but tilt- ratepayers must not shut their eyes to the fact that Government subsidies, if granted, aro paid out of taxes, and if no subsidy is granted, or whenever the Government decide, as they muet soon, to grant no subsidies whatever, then whatever balance is required must be paid out of the general rates of the town, and the necessary and important works of the town, such as repairing streets, drainage, Ac., &c., must either stand in abeyance, or a special rata bo levied. It seems as if those who are agitating this matter want to get the benefit of tho institution at the expense of the general body of ratepayers, who, I trust, will

go to the poll to-morrow, and by their votes show whether they want extra rates or not. Yours, &c.. HENRY N. NALDER. The following letter appears in this morning’s issue of the “Press ” : TO THE BDITOK OF THE PKEBB. Sib, —As I have been one of the first members of the Colonists’ Society, and have taken a great interest in its usefulness, and some years since advocated its being made a free institution, I do hope that the working men of Lyttelton will come to the poll tomorrow, and show they know how to estimate the effort made for their good. I believe that very few working men will have to pay more than from 6i to 2s fid a-ysar for themselves, their sons, and many of their fellowworkmen that are not householders, sailors. There will be a comfortable readingroom and smoking-room, with drafts and chess. And I have no doubt in a very short time there will be many other attractions, the same aa there is in other institutions of the same kind in other places. The whole of Mr Joyce’s statement, that he so ably made at the meeting on Friday night last, is to be depended on. No one has worked harder, or even so hard, for the good of the institution as ho has done. It is but poor encouragement for others for him to have met with the ingratitude and abuse ho gqt. Pours, &c., William G-baham.