BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1725, 4 June 1886, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY. (Continuation of report.) After the Library Committee report had boon read, it was proposed by Cr Snelson, 2nd by Cr B. S. Abrahams, T J.i at the report be received and adopted. Cr y. Abrahams wished to know if the Committee had decided to keep out t)£ the rcading-rooin the Australasian, as he knew that sermons appeared frequently m its columns, Cr Ferguson stated that the committee m keeping out of the Library aught which might tend to or was calculated to cause discussion «r disturbance among the ratepayers, did what, m his opinion, was entirely m accordance with their position. Nothing of a sectarian nature had besn allowed m the Library m the past, and as far as he knew the idea had been carried out. A complaint, however, had been made about certain publications laid on the table, and the committee had considered it their duty to order them off. Their report was before the meeting, and the motion for consideration was that the same be adopted. He did not know whether the Crg had ever seen the RationaMst or Liberator. He had procured copies (produced) which Ire had picked up at random. To £he speaker's mind such papers should t.ot be placed m any public reading-room. They contained seditious, blasphemous, and often indecent matter, and when other. towns m th» colony had decided to refuse permission to allow them m their public reading-rooms, it was not any wonder that their committee bad decided to act m the same way and order them out of their reading-room. The Government of Victoria had ordered the destruction of any copies of these papers passing through the post. If allowed by them here to be circulated it would mean the placing m the hands of the youth of Palmerston seditious and blasphemous literature. Apart from all that, as a loyal subject of her Majesty the Queen, he, for one, could not countenance such publications, pas sage after passage of which teemed with sedition, pure and simple; they should most certainly not be placed m a public Library sustained by public money. Personally, he did not care whether the report was adopted or not. He, hewever, would divide the Council on the question so that it should remain on record how the voting went. Cr Stewart wished to know why it was, that if all that was said of these papers were true, the N.Z, Government had not prohibited them. Cr S. Abrahams considered that religious questions should not be discussed m the Oouncil Chambers. He, however, considered that freedom of selection of literature by the public, who were lated for the maintenance of the Public Library, should be allowed. He would move an amendment, that the question be held over till the next general meeting, when the matter of striking a library rate would be discussed, and possibly the decision of the Council at that meeting would obviate any further discussion on the subject. The Mayor said he would ask the Council to look at the matter m another light altogether. The members of the Committee were 'liable to be attacked everyday m the public piesa by annonyrnous writers. If the Committee had not acted m the interests ot tne Council let the latter cay so, and not leayej the matter m qbeyance for one month to be a target for any person who might like to write undor an assumed name. The Crs. present should surely know whether they approved or not of the Committee's action. They had had a good deal of time since the matter had cropped up to form an opinion. The question now before them was whether they should adopt the report or not. Cr Stewart thought it would be better to adjourn the matter. H« had examined the books that day, and found that a number of persons had been, and were m the habit of receiving books from the Library without being subscribers. Why this should be he would like to know. If the matter were adjourned he believed good would come of it. Cr Hawkins agreed with Cr Stewart that it would be better to adjourn the matter. As far as he knew the Committee had never before asked the Council to back them up m their proceedings, and they had not m this case been requested to submit a report. He did not believe m the journals himself. Whenever he found them m his house he put them m the fire. Cr Snelson objected to an adjournment It was a question whether they upheld Christianity or not. Cr Grace said he did not see why the matter should be adjourned. There never m his opinion had been anything m Palraerston which had excited th» interest of the public like the matter under consideration, and would ask that it receive thoir immediate attention. The Committee were the guardians of the readiug-room, and they had done what they considered best m the interests of the public. The papers referred to had been placed on the table without the customary application being made for permission to do so. The Wesleyan body had a very good paper, of high moral standing, which did not appear m the reading-room, but if they wished to put it there they would apply m the proper way. He considered a liberty had been taken by the parties introducing them as they had, and he most heartily supported the action of the Committee. Cr Rush said he would decidedly vote against the action of the Committee. They had taken m his opinion a most unwarrantable liberty m daring to become the guides of the public m a matter of that sort. He had lead both the papers referred to and found that the religion he professed wayS attacked more vigorously than any other. He, however, never saw anything immoral m them. He further believed that if the, immorality contained m the Bible were taken out of it and. put m print, they would not allow their children to read it. There was nothing m the pages of those papers so disgusting or indecent. The public, indeed, were to be dictated to by tnose gentlemen who represented the Wesleyan, Presbyterian, and English churches! They were the "goody goodies"' though, and could not err! He (the speaker J belonged to the poor benighted Catholic church, which they had condemned to perdition, but for all that they should not dictate to him what he should read. The papers spoken of had caricatured and made fun of his religion. They had taken them off. to a niceity,but be bad a broad liberal heart and put up with it. They hud as much right to be read as any other paper. There was nothing whatever immoral m them. Cr Woods apreed with Cr Bush, although he did not support the papers referred to. They fthe Council,) represented the public and should recollect that fact, and not act m their own interests only. If the Government allowed jthem to be published he could not see there would be much harm m them. The action taken by Victoria m the matter had nothing whatever to do with New Zealand. He could not see why they should be kept out of the Library. Cr Stewart remarked that the Wanganm Library was maintained by subscription, not by a rate levied on the public. Cr Rush would like to know why the Tablet had been ordered out ot the Library some time ago. It was not immoral, at any rate. Cr West considered the action of the i committee a really wise and just one considering the present state of the question of education throughout New Zealand. It was only the same principle as adopted m the State, schools, and he considered it was the best for all concerned. The amendment was then put to the meeting and declared lost. Crs Haw- i ftps, Ruih, S. Abraham^ SUwwt, »p4

Woods, voting for it and Crs West, Snelson, Ferguson, Grace, Waldegrave, and R. S. Abrahams against. The motion was then put and carried. Cr Snelson then, moved that this Council tender to Sir Robert. StouV the Premier of New Zealand its congratulations on the mark of honor conferred on him by her Majesty the Queen. Cr Hawkins seconded the motion, It was pointed out that a notice of motion would be required and the necessary notice was tabled by the proposer. Cr Rush remarked it was a» insult to N. Z. that its Premier should be bought i ovbr by such English foppory. They had too much of that sortof stuff already m the country. The report of the Finance Committee was read. Moved by Or West that the report be received and adopted. A discussion ensued re the excessive charge made by the Manawatu Times for insertion of the onlance sheet. Cr Rusn reminded the Council that a resolution had been paesed by the Council m October last that all adver tising accounts should be alike for botn papers. The Daily Standard had put the balance sheet into a single column, and thereby saved the Council extra expense, but the limes hud inserted the advertisement m treble column and charged accordingly. Cr Hawkins pointed out that items m the account of the Standard before the present meeting had been reduced, and he wanted to know why the Times account was not also reduced on the other hand. The Mayor considered that if the. Council altered the accounts m this way, the proprietors would have a perfect right to tell them to mind their own business. He considered that the accounts should be passed, and it the papers objected they could appiy to the Council. The Clerk ttated that Mr McMion had requested if he might place the advertisement m single column, as by doing so it would be more cenvenient. Cr Hash remarked that the clerk did not tell Mr McMion that he would be , paid less by doing this. The motion was then carried, the Cri evidently not caring to prolong a debate at 11.30 D.m. Cr Stewart tabled a notice of motion that the Council take into consideration at next meeting the appointment of a rate collector. The meeting then adjourned.