POOR FARMER?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3258, 3 May 1943, Page 5

POOR FARMER?

“LESS ACTIVE MENTALLY”

COUNCILLOR’S CONTENTION

LONG ASSOCIATION WITH COWS

“ I suggest, Mr Chairman, that country people are less active mentally as the inevitable result of their long association with cows,” was the somewhat start-

ling remark made by Cr. W. A. Rushton at the April meeting of the Piako County Council when the question of library facilities for country residents were being discussed. A suggestion had been made that the county should take the necessary steps to give free reading facilities to country residents and the full benefit of the, Government Country Library Ser-

vice be gained. Cr. Rushton’s remark was received in a spirited fashion with a number of more or less effective “comebacks After some discussion it was agreed that more information should be sought. Information available revealed, however, that the number of county residents who had paid subscriptions to the libraries at Te Aroha and Morrinsville and made use of their books was very small in proportion to the cost if the county undertook the necessary affiliations.

Reporting on the motion passed at the last meeting of the council that he should report on the cost and. liabilities involved if the county was to subscribe to the Country Library Service and thus provide free library service for country residents, the chairman said the Library Service had reported that they were unable to do anything at the present time owing to the scarcity of books, but he had arranged to see the Country Library (Service official when he next comes to Morrinsville.

‘Cr. Rushton said that the shelves at the Morrinsville library were always full and he did not think that the addition of country subscribers would make a great difference to the library at present. Cr. Harris said that he did not think the answer was satisfactory. The library was for the convenience of ratepayers and at the present time the bbrough ratepayers were the only ones receiving the benefit. The county should give the same rights to their ratepayers at the borough ratepayer's 1 received. He wanted to know whether the borough was making more from the 12s 6d fee from the country residents than from a subsidy from the county. 1 Cr. Johnson, a member of the Morrinsville Library Committee, said the library would welcome the whole district joining in but it would involve enlarging the library. Cr. Burgess said the question had been brought before the council before apd the council had thought only a small percentage of the ratepayers would take advantage of the service. The matter was, • referred to the chairman and Crs. Rushton and Harris. >