THE FREE LIBRARIES QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5653, 13 May 1879, Page 2

THE FREE LIBRARIES QUESTION.

A public meeting convened by advertisement was held last evening at the Athenasum, to consider the advisableness of establishing a free public library in Wellington. There was not a very large attendance. On the motion of Hr. NRWSf-i.tr, Mr, Walter Johnston, M.H.R., was voted to the chair. The Chxibsiaw thanked the meeting for having placed him in the chair, and said that before asking the mover of the first resolution to come forward, he would take the opportunity, if the meeting would indulge him so far, to make a few general observations upon the political and social advantages to be gained by the institution of free libraries. Chiefest among the advantages to be gained from the general diffusion of education he thought was that resolved spirit of independence, and that intolerance of any government opposed to the constitutional mode of government which all educated Englishmen valued most highly. Ha thought it was almost impossible for anyone to read in English history howsome centuries back the Government of that time disposed absolutely of the public estates, the public revenues, and the public liberties, and then sea how our fathers, confronting many perils and overcoming many difficulties, wrested from the Government these great powers, till at last all these matters were absolutely under the control of Parliament. And he thought that here a public which had an opportunity of studying in a free library now our liberties were gained, and which was penetrated with a sense of their value, would not easily endure that anyone should make any encroachment on them, so that if at any time hereafter a Government should arise which showed a disposition to reinstate such an order of things (if it were possible to imagine it) —a Government which would, supposing Parliament passed a Bill to deal with the public estate in a particular way, endeavor to thwart the will of Parliament —a Government which supposing Parliament desired to extend the electoral privilege to the bone and sinew of the country, a measure to carry out what it desired, would tear up that measure in the face of Parliament —if a Government could be found, and he hoped such a Government would never be found, which would deal with public revenues in a way not contemplated by Parliament, or prosecute public works not sanctioned by Parliament, —if such a Government as this should ever exist, then a free people, instructed in the record of their journey towards freedom, would not submit to such au invasion of their rights. But to come to matters which were nearer home, he would say that the general elections to come off next year, and the grave questions suggested in the newspapers to be then or speedily thereafter solved, brought strongly home to his mind the immense importance of giving facilities to all electors to read up all political questions brought before the m. Even jin the comparatively trifling matter of the war cries of aspirants for their suffrages, it would not, he thought, should a candidate come before them with such phrases as the “rights of man,” “posterity,” “the human race,” “ friend of the people,” and so forth, be uninstructive to read in tho history of the French revolution, that some of the most prominent leaders were constant declarants of the rights of man; that one was called “the apostle of the human race,” and another asserted himself as pre-eminently the friend of the people. It was principally because ho looked upon free libraries as a powerful means towards the conservation of freedom that he supported the present movement ; but he further recognised that tho well-being and progress of the colony depended very much upon the electors taking an enlightened view of the questions, of which the solution is now pressed for. It would bo seen that among other things it wag suggested that in the Redistribution of Seats Bill the one single element to be considered was the element of population. Ho did not say that was not the correct view, but he must confess that after considerations sometimes disturbed his mind. He would illustrate what he meant by a reference to his own case. He imported merchandise and passed it on towards the consumers, but at the end of the year his labor and capital had not created any wealth for the country, had produced nothing towards the maintenance of the colonists. So it was with all the inhabitants of the cities and towns. Everything which paid for their subsistence was produced in the country, and ho thought it desirable, in the interests of the towns themselves, that the producing interests should be amply represented. He thought it very important that the electors should havo free access to books on this subject. Another idea mooted for their determination was tho expediency of resisting the domination of a plutocracy. If capital be brought to tho colony and invested in interest-giving securities, then tax the income ; if invested, in land then tax the land ; but you must attack the capital, wherever 'it may be. Well, his idea did not run in that direction. He thought—he might he wrong, but he thought they could not strive too hardly to attract capital to the colony and then strive to utiliseit profitably when here. This was only an additional illustration ha used in bringing before the people the necessity of establishing fpee libraries, so that tlja electors would have access to the best infer; raation possible upon such important points. (Cheers.) Then there were great social advantages likely to arise out of the establishment of such institutions. We heard from some people, notably from Mr. Fox, how much iof our income, over a million a year, was spent in the publichouses. Very likely it was so, but he could not but recognise this: we introduced annually a large number of people. These had at first no homes, and then there was a large number of yctmg men who would not be content to spend their evenings at home, and the only places of resort to which they could go except the theatre, and .the theatre did a great deal of good he believed, were the publichouses. They’ could get no place to employ themselves at which ' had not attached to it a publiohouse bar. It they wanted billiards they must go to someplace at which they felt bound" fo also something to drink. Therefore he thought that when they complained of drinking customs they should provide other places than the publichouse to which the young men might go ; and that was another reason why he desired the establishment of a public library. (Hear, hear.) To conclude, he would say it was because enlightenment is one of the strongest agents in the conservation of our freedoui, because all aids to it are of extrema importance in enabling the electors to support only measures really beneficial to the country, - and because he believed the establishment of a free library to be a valuable moral agent, that he recommended the question of the establishment of a free library in Wellington to their favorable consideration. (Applause.) He would now call upon the mover of the first resolution.

Dr. Newman regretted the small attendance, and said he hoped that though that evening gave prospect of a small beginning the movement would speedily assume much larger proportions. The, want of a free library in this city he thought was a matter to be deplored. There were libraries, one of them a good one, in Wellington, but they were practically-in-accessible ; while in Christchurch, and he believed in other cities, there were large and valuable free libraries open to the people. If one went to the Athenseum library there was nothing of any value to be found, and so with the Philosophical Society’s library, and the consequence was people had not that opportunity of reading np and improving themselves that they had in other places. Besides this a free public library would be useful as a national record in which valuable documents pertaining to the history of- the colony and likely to be of use to the future historian might be preserved. ; It was idle to talk of a passing depression stopping the establishment of such an institution. The present cloud would soon pass over. Already other colonies were getting loans in England, and he believed that New Zealand would soon be asking for another five millions, so that hard time's woulfi soon disappear. Of course nothing pould bp settled that evening, but they might go to work preparing a definite

scheme to be put before the ratepayers. Dr. Newman then went on to explain some of the provisions of the Public Libraries Act, and to state that Sir Geergo Grey bad promised the use of the large hall in the Provincial Buildings for a start, and had besides promised valuable donations of books and rare works. There were a number of wealthy citizens who were willing to contribute handsomely. Already some fifties and even hundreds had been promised, and no doubt other assistance would soon come in. He went on to suggest that there might be a combination of the various libraries in town. The Athenrcum with its 9000 volumes, Provincial Library 1300, and General Assembly Library 14,000, would form the nucleus of a good collection if suitable arrangements could be made. As to funds, a penny in the pound on all rateable property in the borough would give £IOOO, a thousand subscribers at ss. per annum would give £250, and the Government, according tol Act, would subsidise .to the extent of £1 for £l. He understood it was the intention of the Government to erect a separate building for a Parliamentary library, and perhaps some arrangement could then be made by wbiOh the people would obtain the use of the Parliamentary library, and the peoples money might be expended in improving the combined library. Thus one large library second to none in the colony would be obtained. All this would be matter for a committee to report upon. He moved, —That this meeting do approve the’ establishment of a free public library in Wellington. ■ Mr. A. A. Babnett seconded. He said he had had the pleasure of seeing free public libraries existing in other cities, and in each case he found they had been a credit to the founders and the pride of the residents of the city in which they were established. He spoke generally at some length of the great advantages to be gained by study, and said the establishment of institutions such as that proposed would tend to promote study. Of course a little sacrifice must be made, and continued effort must be expected in order to provide for the support of a library when established. In this matter Wellington’s reputation was at stake, and therefore he hoped there would be no lukewarmness displayed. In further remarks Mr. Barnett said this was a common ground on which all could meet, whatever their religious opinion, their politics, or their state of life ; and he had no donbt that the people would gladly pay a penny rate for the sake of a good library. But for the people to take an interest in the movement, or the Government assist it, the institution must be perfectly free,' and there must be no mixing up of subscribers in connection with it. Carried.

Mr. FIELD then said he wished to propose a Committee, but was in doubt as to what names he should mention, preferring to leave it to the meeting to nominate. Ho repeated the explanations given by Dr. Newman in regard to the Public Libraries Act, and then suggested certain names, moving that a committee be appointed to consider and suggest a scheme for the establishment of a free public library. Hr. M, L. Marks seconded, and spoke of the advantage a free library would be in keeping young men out of the public houses. , After some discussion, the following committee was appointed :—Dr. Newman, Messrs. T. K. Macdonald, A. A. Barnett, Herden, O’Shea, Woodward, Logan, Quick, Marks, and W. Johnston.

Mr. G. Allen’s name was proposed, but Mr. Aims said he had done his share of work in these matters, and must leave them to younger men. Mr, Macdonald observed that Mr. Allen had been so long 1 connected with such movements, that his advice if he did not work would be very valuable. However, Mr. Allen declined to become a member of the committee, though he promised every support in his power.. Mr. Field was also mentioned, but declined on the ground that he was leaving the city. The meeting adjourned, after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.