Levin Borough Council

Levin Daily Chronicle, 3 April 1917, Page 3

Levin Borough Council

9 ORDINARY FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. Levin Borough Council held its ordinary fortnightly general meeting last night, the mayor (Mr C. Blenkiiorn) presiding. There also were present: Councillors E. M. ;Heirick, M. Fcsella, J. Harvey, S. Jones, A. Dcuipsey, 11. B. France, J. Robertson. ANZAC DAY. The circular letter from Sir James Allen (Acting-Prime Minster( already published in The Chronicle, was read by tho Town Clerk. The mayor said that last year's arrangement was admirable, and he thought the council could not do better than hold it on the same lines this year. Discussicn took place as to whether the observance should take place on St. George's (Day (Monday) or on the Wednesday follow7?ig, which is tho actual day, but a'so tho day statutorily fixed for the biennial election of mayor and councillors.

The council decidcd that the fixing of a day of observance for Levin be left for decision until the council meets on tho 16th April. NEW PICTURE THEATRES FOR LEVIN. L. E. Williams, for his principal, wrote in regard to a picture theatre in Levin for Mr Grey Phillips." The writer asked if it would be practicable for his principal to get the use of the high pressure water supply of tho borough as supplied to the existing picture show. It was mentioned that no plans had been submitted to the council, and that until this was done no' start could bo made with the building. Councillor Harvey said ho had seen the plans; they provided for a building at a cost of some £3000, and tho building seemed a very nice one. In an incidental discussion it was statd that another had bought the corner. section known as r 'Jones's" from tho McDonald trustees with a view to erecting another picture show. It also was said that to grant high-pressure water supply to a second picture show would be impracticable ; the limit already had been reached.

Til borough foreman reported that it would 'bo well to keep on hanct one or two lengths of the different sized pipes used for water supply. The town clerk said ho thought it would be well to write to the Spiral ■Pipe Company, Wianganui, and ascertain prices, etc. Tlie nfiiyor said the suggestion was an excellent one, and the council agreed. ff The foreman's report dwelt upon the practice .of "leaving motor oars and traps standing in the main street; at times it was so bad that there hardly was room for two vehicles to pass." Tlie i foreman was authorized to call upon the principal offenders to abate the nuisance. The council's by-laws, it was mentioned, gave power for prosecution of persstent offenders. A reference to the railway crossing in Queen-street is dealt with in to-day's local and general column. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Councillor Dempsey complained about a new rule which necessitates the keeping of books >at least three days before they can be changed. This pressed hardly upon a man who took a book home and then found he had read it ibetfore. iH also objected to the provision that when two books were taken out they ,mju;st [bo (brought back together; sometimes two people in an© house road®a, book each, and one was finished before the other.' In this case it was hard that the one Who had finished reading should have to wait until the second ono was available for return.

The mayor said it was unwise at tlie initiation of a. new system to take much notice of complaints; the system should be given a fair trial. The system now in practice at Levin was found very satisfactory in large cities. As to people tak'ng out books that they already had read, that was people's own fault; not the librarian's. Oil tho genera lissue, it could he said that when the system' had been well tested any necessary alterations could be made. Mr B. H. Gardener, town clerk, as librarian, said that no rules could bo brought into any organization without offending someone. The rules referred to hy Councillor Dempsey were the most important in the whole set. The library rules did not prohibit any one in a family from being a borrower (a family of seven could individually borrow fourteen books a week, if those family members chose to do so). Hut j,f :one person took out two hooks, surely he was not ill treated if he was required to wait for three days before changing them! The rule that books were not transferable was highly necessary; the man who borrowed a ibook must bring it hack and bo responsible for his own borrowing; otherwise there could be no proper control. Councillor Robertson said that tho "three days" rule was absolutely necessary. If ibooks could be changed every day, a few voracious readers would be all the time rushing to the library and preventing the .general public from getting new books. Coun. oil for Robertson, however, queried whether the system would be interfered with hy allowing a borrower to return only one out of two books when requiring a change; ho doubted if the library rules barred it. In concluding, Councillor Robertson objected to a pinpricking policy against the library; it was well run, and was a credit to Levin" (Hear, hear.) The mayor said that as chief librarian he should be. approached by people who had complaints to make; hut they did not reach him. 'If people did not come to him, how could matters be put right? Councillor Finance said that the trouble with the. library was that the public got it too cheaply. A better plan would he to hare an annual charge for the circulating library; he

j bolived tho deed of gift from Mr Oar- , negio would ahow this, 'provided tho public rending room was kept free. ■Councillor Dempsey moved that thy rules as to tho lapse of three days etVrc tho changing'of a book 'be > truck out. The motion (lapsed through lac'- of a seconder.