CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2188, 1 March 1881, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held at 3 p.m. yesterday Present —Mr W. Montgomery (chairman), the Primate, Messrs Malet, Webb, Stevens, Hamilton, Pereday, Veel.

A precis of letters was read by the Registrar, as laid on the table at the present meeting, including memorials for and against opening the Library on Sundays. Mr Pereday moved, “ That the Agricultural School Committee take into consideration the establishment of sericiculture, with the object of introducing it as a colonial industry.” He thought it would be a good thing to introduce it at the College, as it would then gradually bo worked into favor with the agricultural population. The growing of the silk worm was a most valuable industry, as in Italy alone the returns were about a million sterling per an urn. Mr Stevens seconded the motion. Mr Webb said that in New South Wales the experiment had been tried, but had been a failure. He thought that the cost of labor necessary to attend upon the worms was the great bar to the success of the experiment. Again, they had to consider whether the mulberry would grow here, os this was necessary for the worms. Mr Pereday said the modus operand! was most simple. The worms only required to have the leaves given to them every day, which any child could do. There was really nothing in the objection as to the price of labour which would be an objection to the introduction of tho industry. The motion was then put and carried.

The Chairman said the next business was tho consideration of the report of the library committee as to the opening of the library on Sunday. Since the last debate petitions, numerously signed, had been sent in for and against tho proposition. If any member desired these petitions read they would be so. He might say that the text of tho petitions had been published in the daily papers. Mr Webb said he should like to have the petitions read. The Registrar then read tho petitions, as follows From the Young Men’s Christian Association against the opening of the Library on Sunday, signed by Mr J. M. Heywood, president of the Young Men’s Christian Association. From the promoters of the meeting held on Monday last at the rooms of the Young Men’s Christian Association against tho opening of the Library on Sunday, signed by Mr J. H. Tvrontyman, chairman of tho meeting. A memorial was next read, signed by His Honor Judge Johnston and others, in favor of opening tho Library on Sunday. The Chairman said tho question before the Board was tho striking out of the figure 7 in the report of the Library committee, and substitution of tho figure 8. Mr Stevens said, as he understood the question, Mr Fraser’s amendment, which was now before the Board, pointed to the fact that the partial opening of the Library was decided upon. Tho Chairman said that this was the position. If Mr Fraser’a amendment was carried, then the matter was settled up to that figure 8. It tho amendment was lost, then the whole question would bo re-opened. Mr Hamilton asked what arrangements had been made for carotaking on Sunday, if no arrangement was mode to give the caretakers their free Sunday, so as not to keep them there all tho week and the Sunday too. If this was not done he should vote against the measure.

The Chairman said he supposed if this measure wore agreed to the committee would make arrangements to meet what Mr Hamilton hod brought before them. Mr Webb said as they had but a bare quorum there that day, and as, perhaps, if they gave longer time the people would speak out on the matter, he should like to move that the question bo adjourned for say two or three months. He thought that the question raised by Mr Hamilton should have consideration, as it would be most unfair on the present custodians to keep them there on Sunday ae well as all through the week. Then again they would, if this were not done, have to employ other attendants, and yet they had hud to raise the price of subscription to the library, arguing that they had no funds. He thought that they would far better reduce the price of the subscription, and extend the time of opening the library on week days rather than open it on Sunday. If they carried this question, they would find that they would offend a very large section of the community, and would as it were give their countenance to the free thinking spirit of the age. This was not the place to go into the question of the religious observance of the Sabbath ; but he thought that the presenting of so many memorials painted to the fact that they should postpone the consideration of this subject. He therefore begged to move—“ That the consideration of this subject bo postponed tor throe months.”

The Primage said that he would second the motion. He did not object to tho opening of the library as such, but to the employment of labor on the day of rest. It did not matter much whether a man read books in public or in private, and he trusted that all books in tho Public Library were of such a character as that they might be read, it not with profit at least without harm, on the Sabbath. But his greatest objection was that they had to employ labor on the Sabbath, and besides that, he looked upon it that this would be to a great extent the precursor to the introduction of other secular employments on the Sabbath.

Mr Wo'>b read a memo, from Mr Robs, late President of the Sunday School Union, stating that the married men in the Addington workshops did not require tho opening of tho library on Sunday, and of tho single men, some were not in favor of it and others were.

Mr Foroday said that ho should always oppose any curtailment of the privileges of the Sabbath, and therefore he would support the motion, because if this were carried ho should expect to see the continental Sabbath carried out here. Mr Stevens said tho form of the motion

precluded the discussion of tho general question. It had been said that the Board was small that day, but what was tbe proposal? viz., that tho matter stand over for three months, when, as Parliament would be meeting, there would be a very small chance of a quorum being got together. Then, again, it was urged that the postponement would be advisable to enable the public to speak out more. Ho thought there had been a great deal of agitation already, and that it would be belter for the public to settle tho matter out of hand. As regarded the employment of labor, they would, it this matter was agreed

to, find that it would want but a small amount of attendance, and that this detail would be provided for. Mr Malet and Mr Veel opposed the resolution on the ground that the quorum of the Board, viz., eight, was a largo one, and that the subject had better bo disposed of at once. The motion was then put to the vote as folAyes—The Primate, Messrs Fereday, Webb, and Hamilton. Noes—Messrs Yeel, Malet, Stevens, and the Chairman. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the noes. The mot>on was therefore negatived. Mr Stevens said that ho understood that the principle of the motion was agreed to. The Chairman said that the position was this —that if the amendment for the retention of the figure 7 was carried the whole question would be put, but no amendment could bo put before that fact. Messrs Fereday and Webb bore left the room, but returned again when the Chairman put the question, and the figure 7 was retained. The time of opening was thus fixed at from seven to nine in the evening,^

Mr Hamilton, on tho whole question being put, desired to move a further amendment—- “ That tho question be kept over till the end of the business.” Ho wanted an assurance that the attendants would not be called upon to work every day in tho week, and Sundays included. If this was not given to him he should leave the room, and thus break up the quorum. He would not be a party to making it compulsory on the attendants to work on Sundays. As Mr Webb had pointed out, they had no funds, hence there was nothing to compensate the attendants for the loss of their seventh day. If he was not ensured of the attendants being looked after, then he would leave the room. The Chairman said that, the proper method ot dealing with this would be to put a resolu. tion instructing the library committee to see this done. But he desired to point out thot many young men had come to him and offered to take an hour eich, so as not to entail either cost on the library committee or further attendance on the part of the custodians. [Hear, hear.] It would bo very easy to move a resolution to instruct tho library committee to see that this was done without farther work being imposed on the attendants.

Mr Stevens said Mr Hamilton’s proposition was simply this—that the other business of the Board should be done, and that then he would walk out and hare what was known as a “ count out.” He himself was fully prepared to see Mr Hamilton leave now, rather than place the Board in the position be proposed to do. [Hear, hear] Mr Malet said that ho had voted for the opening of the library on the clear understanding of the chairman and Mr Veel that no further work would be placed on the permanent staff of the Board now employed in the Library. Mr Teel said that he desired most clearly to state, on behalf of the Library committee, that they did not intend to employ the present staff of the Library on Sunday. [Hoar, hear.] Mr Teredoy looked upon it that the employment of any one was as bad as the employment of the present staff. Mr Hamilton moved—“ That the debate be adjourned.” He said that in so important a change as this the library committee should have come down with a scheme. Now the Board had a large amount of property at the Library, for which they had made their custodian responsible. Now it was proposed to hand over their Library to the care of volunteers on Sundays. A largo amount of plundering had taken place under their present paid staff. What was the chance of this not taking place under the volunteer staff as proposed P They must have a paid staff directly responsible to them, but they had no funds, hence they must fall back upon their permanent staff and deprive them of their day of rest. It was a most important principle to decide whether a majority should tyrannise over the one assistant so as to deprive him of his day of rest, Mr Faraday seconded the motion for adjournment.

The motion was put with the following result: —Ayes ; The Primate, Messrs Fereday, Webb, Hamilton. Noes : Messrs Yeel, Malet, Stevens, and Montgomery. The chairman gave his casting vote with tho noes.

The main question-“ That the Library be opened on Sundays,” was then put and declared to be carried. Mr Webb called for a division.

Messrs Fereday and Hamilton left the room, thus putting an end to the meeting, there being no quorum. The Chairman—Mr Webb, you are leaving the room and have called for a division.

Mr Webb—No, sir, I am not leaving, but is there is no quorum no division can bo taken.

The Chairman—Well, gentlemen, as there is no quorum of course I cannot put the motion to a division. As already stated, it was declared carried on the voices. This is to be regretted, as there is a large amount of moat important business to be transacted. This stoppage will involve a break in our work, as certain matters with regard to contracts, &0., had to come before you to-day. However, as there is no quorum the meeting must lapse. This terminated the proceedings.