The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1886. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1713, 20 May 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1886. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

We understand that the Librarian last evening received peremptory official instructions to immediately remove from the table of the Reading ltoom the following publications, viz, Rationalist, Liberator, Church Chronicle, War Cry, and New Zed* land Watchman. Now, we may say at once that we consider the action taken exceedingly impolitic, injudicious, discourteous and arbitrary, and one that the public will not be inclined to submit to m silence, or without resistance. We understand that a vigorous protest has already been made against the . course puraued. The protest points out that the publications m question are not immoral or obscene, and that whether religious or secular, the public should not be denied the liberty of reading them. A request has also been preferred that instructions be given to have the publications replaced on the table ■"■ of the Heading Room. The representa-. tion, which is made at the suggestion and on behalf 4>f a large number of persons who frequent the Reading Koom, is put forth m a friendly spirit ; but it is distinctly 3tated that ifthe 'tentft:of the request are not granted,, the matter will be brought before the ratepayers and the public, ; a large section of whom have expressed their sense of strong dissatisfaction with the action referred to. Jt is to be hoped the Library Committee will not feel disposed to act m a spirit of antagonism to public opinion and common sense m this matter. We feel sure they will admit that they have acted indiscreetly, and with precipitation, m issuing the edict they, have done, and have gone the best possible way to work to stir up feelings of strife and dissension m the community ; though that may not have been their motive or intention, and we trust was not. We. hope they will reconsider the question, and at. once cancel the obnoxious edict which has already caused a considerable display of feeling at the injustice and palpable interference witb the liberty of public opinion sought to be "pefpetrated. To our mind, the idea seems utterly incompatible with the advanced thought and intellectual progress of the present age, that any persons shall say m effect, "We will not allow the public to read this or that literature, because we disapprove of it." What right has the Library Committee to arrogate to themselves the authority to die. tate to the public what j they ihftjl or ih*ll not read, WeraJ $b« pultofei fitttQgnejft immortal

m their tendency, we should applaud the action of the Committee ; but we cannot grant them the right to say there are certain publications to which we object, for private reasons of our own, and we will not allow them on the table of the Reading Room, lest the public be tempted to depart from the antiquated grooves of legends, mythology and superstition, and seek to reason and think for themselves ? We say it is the most arbitrary and tyrannical action we ever heard of, and is utterly unjustifiable and without precedent. We do hope that to prevent an appeal to the public sense of fair play, impartiality, and justice, whicn'is characteristic of every English-speaking community, the objectionable and, m our opinion, most indiscreet and unwarrantable edict will he forthwith countermand-: ed, and the public permitted to select for themselves what they shall read, and what avoid. We regret that indiscreet suggestions from outside sources have been too* precipitately given effect to, because we feel satisfied that the Library Committee have acted conscientiously m the matter, however ill-advised their decision may . be. We could say much more on the merits of the question at issue, did time and space permit. We have confined our remarks to the broad principle at stake, viz., the action of the Com* mittee m ordering the Librarian ■to remove from the public Heading Koom certain publications to which the Com mi ttee.individually speaking, take exception on certain grounds. We trust to hear of the very offensive and arbitrary edict being withdrawn immediately.