PUBLIC LIBRARY, READINGROOM AND REST ROOM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2643, 9 October 1923, Page 2

PUBLIC LIBRARY, READINGROOM AND REST ROOM.

COUNCIL OPPOSES A LOAN.

MAYOR. SAYS IT IS A LUXURY. It will be remembered that the Council used the insurance money on the Council Chamber readingroom and library, destroyed by fire, for the construction of Municipal Chambers alone. The Council obtained advice from the Municipal Association’s solicitor, that such action in excluding the readingroom and library included in the original loan was legal. The ratepayers were not, however, consulted in the matter and the Council erected the Chamber's and the Mayor at last night’s meeting referred to the conveniences of a public library and reading-room as a luxury for Cox ton —the only town in the Dominion without such provision. At last night’s meeting Cr Smith, and Cr. McMurray moved the following motion: “That when placing the loan proposal for public swimming baths before the ratepayers a proposal also be put forward for a loa n to cover cost of building a public libz'ary, reading-room, and restroom; that the Town Clerk be instructed to ask Mr Vamham to prepare plans etc., for a building to cost not more than £1,200.” Cr. Smith said that this matter had been discussed by the local Chamber of Commerce at its last, meeting and it was unanimously decided that it be a recommendation to the Council to take both questiona at the one poll for the sanctioning of a loan Tor swimming baths. The Mayor: What's it got to do with them? - ' Cr. Smith: I understand you are an ex-officio member'of that body. The Chamber of Commerce deals with matters in the interest of tbe town. He pointed out that by doing this the Council would save a good deal of expense. Cr. Coley said hat he would not support a library loan now. Eighteen months ago he had agitated for. a loan and had been turned down in the Council on two occasions. He considered the time was not oppor- - tune at present'. 'flip Mayor said that he would take the matter into consideration if he was presented with a petition of 25 per cent, of the ratepayers, !If the ratepayers granted a public library and reading-room surely they could get one man in 25 to sign a petition. He s : iid some people did not know the meaning of “sacrifice.” They wanted everything. He considered a library and reading room a luxury. If the town warranted it lie would certainly say have it, but fin 1 population was decreasing. They \ wanted to popularise the town—to make it attractive. He considered they should finish the sewerage work before they undertook anything new. Cr. Ross said that he did not quite follow the Mayor. He might just as well term baths a luxury. They were, new work anyhow, Cr. Adams said he would vote a-gaiti.-l baths. Cr. Walker said that if the two questions were taken together, they would both be thrown out. Cr. Smith said he could not understand the Mayor’s inconsistency in this matter. Why was the Council collecting a library rate of £s(l p.-r year? The loan for the library rad reading-room was distinct front the baths.' He quoted figures to show that before the lire the rate <■ fiiccted with the v subscription totalled over £IOO, so that if the loan proposal' was carried it would only mean tin approximate extra rate of 1 -M<l in the £, making a t'otal of Id. The Council was at present collecting J-Sd of this now. In 1918, he said, the Council was collecting Id i'n the f rate for this proposal. In tliis connection it would be a hardship for the ratepayers to pay I't in the £ now for the benefits of a leading-room, library and restroom for women. The motion on being pitt was lost For: Crs. Smith, McMurray, Parkin, Ross; against: the Mayor and Crs. Coley, Walker, Bryant and Adams.