LEVIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 July 1910, Page 3

LEVIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANIMATED DEBATE,

AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

STRONG SPEECH BY THE

MAYOR.

THE LIBRARY IN JEOPARDY

An animated debate took place at n late hour last evening at'tho meetimg (if the Levin Borough Council on the. question of a site for a Carnegie library in Levin. N'otice. of motion had been given by Cr. I'Yanee to the effect that the motion fixing the proposed library on blocks 1, 2, 3, mid 8, in Bath street be rescinded. Cr Franco accordingly moved to thiis effort.

TJio motion was carried. Subsequently a motion* was proposed to tlio effort tlwit the resolution standing in 'the minute Ixiok, tli.atv the 1 ihrjir.v lie ereoted in any portion of Until street, lie rescindetl. The Mayor told the Council that lie felt very strongly on Hio nuattor. If tlie constitution of tilie Council now was different from wluvt it was when the Council passed certain resolutions 011 the subject he would not mind so much. TTe riuotod ■resolutions the Council had passed that the library should not bo built north of lintli shwt, and mislead tin* Council how it reconciled its past ■n-.tron with the present proposal. When the question of a site first crop)x>d up n public meeting was held to consider the matter, and it was his duty to tell that mee>ting— as he had told it—that the Council had. passed 1 a resolution that the library should not be built north of Hath street. That mooting was a large one. and it adopted a resolution to this effect:—"That this meeting of ratepayers <and burgesses ex-prcsses its satisfaction at the decision of the llorou£rh Council in deciding that the library site shall not- be built north of Bntli street." There were no new members on the Council since that resolution had been -a(looted, aiul he asked them whether it was riu'ht or fair to break a ronrpact? At all events, he himself decilined to do so. ft had been said. ""Who are the south end: people? They are only agitators." Tt was all very well to say that. The people in the south end of the borough had as much right .to be Considered as the people in the north end. The southern end was progressing just as much <as the northern end. Then wihy move the library from the centre of the district? He spoke strongly, but- the times demanded strong ilangua.ge, and wheni he spoke as lie was doing it was because lie had the interests of the ratepayers at heart, and because tihoy might possibly lose the Car negie grant altogether. There -would be an agitation over the site, and he would bo one who would take part in it.

Cr. Cameron : And T shall he with you, too!

Cr. Ilannan took strong exception to .tihe speech 'of the Mayor, which, he sniid. im,plied a threat.

Tho Mayor: Pardon me. Or. Hannan. These are my views, and T have a right to give expression, to thmn. T feel so strongly upon the matter that iT a.m very sorry to hear the vinws that some councillors give pxnreFsion to.

Or. Mackenzie denounced the speech of tiho Mayor and the remarks of Cr. Cameron as most ro-prt<liHi.«i-ble. Ho did vs--> ok.o where the library wns located as long as they got it. The Mayor had gone .eo far as to say tho Council was rdbbing the borough!

Or. Palmar admonisherl .the Council ivot to forget its just ol(ligations. Tt had entered into a compact" witih the southern portion of the boroueh. and it ou<rht tn eta ml by that nunpirt*. TTe )*nfl ili.un.r/l: if* cKn.fxi.rl fliji.f, people would write to Mr Ca.rne.c;io anfl ask him to stop tlm errant . Or. Mackenzie: Then tihey ought to ho ashamed! Or. Prouso insisted that a. compact had iheen made with the wliole community. Cr. Barman (heatedly): T enteral •into no compact with anyone, and T object to a.nyone saying T did! Cr. Prouso (continuiup:) said that if tlio people bated they had a perfect right to do so. He considered they Had lVofc taken the public into their confidence. Public meetings had been held before aiwl an hoiiouira'hlo iiiKWstaiidiwj had been arrived at. Now the question was raised again, and the con.serinonop ol that notion must rest- on the shoulders of those who .brought about tho interruption. Cr. .Lancaster: T til li n k tl If* Mayor's speech and Or. Cameron's rnm.arks most unwarranted. The Mayor (decisively): Cr. Lancaster, these are my opinions, and T unhesitatingly stand bv them. There vn-t»d for the recision of the motion:— Crs. France. TTannan, Mackenzie, Lancaster find A reus (o) ; against, His "Worahip the Mayor, Ors. Cameron. Palmer and Prouse (4V The motion was therefore declared onrriecL Tlio matter will tficcordiinglv c'omo before the Oonmcil at its next meetinrr, K'hen it is n7l tic mated the miration of ii stie will he finally settled.