THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1882. GLOUCESTER STREET LARRIKINS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2468, 4 March 1882, Page 3

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1882. GLOUCESTER STREET LARRIKINS.

It is satisfactory to find that the general public are at last beginning to discover what an evil exists in one of onr most frequented thoroughfares. Our contemporary the “ Star,” with a coolness which is perfectly refreshing this hot weather, has the audacity to arrogate to itself the credit of having ventilated this subject. Considering that for two years at least this journal has persistently brought this matter under the knowledge of the public, this is rather rich. However, much may be pardoned on account of the youth and inexperience of the fledgeling journalist who now directs the theatrical thunder of our contemporary. It has long been a matter of astonishment to visitors that snch disgraceful scenes should be allowed to take place nightly under the very eyes of the police. So soon as darkness sets in, the larrikins hold a perfect saturnalia in Gloucester street. As most of our readers know from painful experience, it is well nigh impossible for ladies to pass along this street without having both their eyes and ears offended by a crowd of half-grown larrikins. These gentle youths, reinforced by some men of equal talent in the use of profane language, fill up the pavement in front of the Theatre, rendering it necessary for ladies to elbow their way through the mass. As we have said over and over again, snch a disgraceful state of things as this would not have been allowed to exist for a moment in any other city but Christchurch. Why it should have been permitted here is a mystery which Mr. Superintendent Broham can perhaps unravel. It is high time that some steps were taken to put a stop to what has now become perfectly intolerable. The vacant ground on the opposite side of the street is a sort of happy hunting ground for battalions of larrikins whose conduct is simply disgraceful. Yet the police authorities do not interfere, and the public quietly submit to have their wives and daughters insulted by being forced to hear language of the lowest description. Unless the authorities interfere to put down the evil, the public will have no alternative but to take the law into their own hands and protect themselves. Such a course is to bo regretted, but the fact that constituted authority will not or cannot interfere leaves no other remedy. We hope, however, that Mr. Broham will now, though late in the day, see that measures are taken to do away with what we cannot but consider a standing disgrace to Christchurch. In the effort to do this he will, we are sure, receive the hearty support of the citizens; not only so, but if he can make an alteration, the thanks of the community will be accorded to him.

THE “PRESS” AND THE CIRCULATING LIBRARY.

It ia seldom our venerable and respected contemporary the “ Press” ventures to descant upon a social subject, but whenever it does—probably from want of practice in this particular line —the result is a lamentable failure. The dear old lady this morning has a few words to say about the circulating portion of the Public Library, and, of course, the arguments are all in favour of the devotees of Mammon in this city who have continued to get the lion’s share of this world’s goods. The circulating library, says the “Press,” should be done away with. What do the toiling artisans or the hardworked shopmen want with mental recreation ? or, if they must have it, why let them pay five guineas a year to some high-toned circulating library established by private enterprise. These are the arguments of the pseudo working man’s friend, and first let us look at the grounds upon which it is attempted to support them. “It costs money” appears to be the first reason why it should be swept away. Is, we would ask, the circulating ■department of the Public Library the only institution in Christchurch propped np by public money from which no public benefit ia derivable? Wo could refer our dear old friend to many a one kept up solely to provide a snug billet for some friend of one of the members of that charming little family party known as the Board of Governors. The “ Press” never says of these “ Let them bo swept away.” Oh, no, that would interfere with “ some fellah in our set you know.” But, when the question ia the retention or otherwise of an institution which is affording innocent recreation and useful information to hundreds of artisans and others who could not possibly obtain it except by this means, the “ Press” calmly suggests that they should be debarred from it. It is true that the power for good of the Library has been deteriorated very much owing to the consistent policy of starvation pursued by the happy family of Governors, of which

the “Press” is the chosen champion, but still it has done, and is still doing, a good wort. It affords the means whereby many of our youths, instead of seeking for recreation at the bars of public-houses or in billiard saloons, can spend their leisure time both agreeably and profitably. Yet, because there is no post attached to it into which some friend of the clique can be pitchforked to draw a good salary for very little work, the “ Press ” says, lot it be swept away. Wo contend that the public who use the circulating library have a right to insist that the public funds shall be devoted towards its maintenance as well as the reference library. No one will deny the utility of a reference library, hat why should it be necessary, in order to keep up this branch to entirely destroy another of equal value, though in a different -manner. The argument used by the

“ Press ” as to the country people not using the circulating department is not only utterly absurd but fallacious, and shows that our venerable contemporary, as usual with subjects of this tin , knows nothing whatever about it. The circulating library is very largely used by country residents, who soon exhaust the stock of their district library, and draw on the larger resources of the one in town. Thus this argument fails utterly. In one portion of the remarks of the “Press” we are glad to be able to concur. That is with respect to the circulating portion being made selfsupporting. This could easily be if the Board chooses to retrace the unwise step it took in increasing the subscription, and to give the department a fair start, by procuring some of the latest works in fiction, &c. If this is done, wo feel sure that this department can bo made to recoup all the money ex-

pended on it. W« trust the people as a whole will not allow the narrow-minded and illiberal clique, of whoso opinions the “ Press ” is the exponent, to ride rough shod over them, and take away that which is clearly their property as much as the Museum or any of the numerous expensive educational “ fads ” established by the Board of Governors. Though the latter are a perfectly irresponsible body, electing their own mem-

bers from out a select coterie, yet public opinion may bo so directed as to have some weight upon them. It seems to us a gross injustice that a body having the control and management of a large public estate, and the expenditure of a very large share of the public revenue should be self-elected. The people have now no voice whatever in the matter, though their interest is exceedingly great. Wo hope some means will be taken to get an expression of public opinion at no distant date. If not, the public may bo sure that the policy of absorption put forward by the “ Press,” thus moving as a feeler, will be carried out to the bitter end.