FREE LIBRARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4235, 16 October 1874, Page 3

FREE LIBRARY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I understand that the electors are to he called on to-day to exercise the privilege of the ballot in the matter of the establishment of a free library for the city of Wellington. It may be only rumor, however, for I have not observed any advertisement announcing the fact appearing in the columns of your paper. A free library may be all very well in a richer and larger community ; but we have so many ways in which our money can at present be more usefully employed, that it is an utter absurdity to divert the city rates for any such purpose. If you do not take the city rates you must impose a special tax for the purpose. And what necessity is there for doing any such thing ? We have an excellent library at the Athenaeum, and persons desirous of becoming members can do so for a small annual subscription. lam afraid, however, that it is not a free library for the use of the community that the agitators of this movement desire, but that they are anxious to create billets for themselves at the public expense. "While some of the streets in the suburbs are almost impassable, and other public works are so urgently required, it would be a sheer waste of time and money to devote it to any such purpose.;—l am, &c., As Elbctor.