PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 12

PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

THE AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS. A mooting of the executive of the Public Library Association was held in the Mayor's office, Town Hall Buildings, on the i"th. ; present— the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. Loudon, in the chair), the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., Messrs J. F. Arnold, M.P., T. K. Sidey, M.P., T. Mackenzie, M.P., A. R. Barclay, M.P., M. Cohen (hon. secretary), R. Gilkison, and T. Scott. Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Hons. J. R. Sinclair and J. B. Callaji, M.L.C.'s, Messrs A. Leo Smith, R. Chisholm, and J. M. E. G-arrow. THE CARNEGIE BUILDING. Mr Cohen said the meeting had been called for j;wo objects, one of which would be taken in committee. The other frose out of the position taken up by the Athenoeum Committee. For himself, he thought it was useless to proceed any further in the matter of amalgamation, and af that was the feeling of the meeting he would take the reponsibilioy of moving — | " That the council be asked to take action, j without delay with the object of equipping I and stocking the Public Library, in order i that the same may be formally opened j before the coming winter." He was not i aware what provision had been made during his absence for the equipment of the ! institution, but before he left for England ' he understood the Finance Committee vas prepared to make ample provision for the equipping and stocking of the institution. I His Worship said that laet year £4000 was placed on the city's estimates for furnishing and equipping the library. So far nothing had been spent in that direction. The Finance Committee was not very enthusiastio about the Free Public Library, and the matter was referred to a sub-com-mittee to discuss with the Athenaeum people. Acting on behalf of the sub-com-mittee, he had sent a letter to the Athenasum Committee setting out what he thought would be an amicable arrangement that might be come to between the two parties. The basis was that the Athenaeum members were to hand over the whole of their buildings and equipment to the City Council. In faot, they were to take advantage of the ordinance of 1870 (he thought), and dissolve. The result of the dissolution would be that the whole property -would become -vested in the City Council. The Athenaeum authorities objected to that, and from what he could learn of the feeling among the subscribers he thought there was not the slightest chance of such a proposition being carried. The sub-committee then considered the matter further. Three schemes, it thought, might be practicable. The first was to commence the Free Library in a modest way, probably at an expense of £1000 a ypar to the corporation. The second was that if they handed over the Carnegie building to the Athenreum people, the latter would t>e quite able to finance the whole matter, and that Mr Carnegip should be written to politely saying that the city wa« very sorry that the conditions he had imposed would not permit of the library being carried out without _ adding an incubus to the rates of the city, and asking him. if he could not waive his conditions, to accept the repayment of hie gift. If the Athenseum people went into the matter, he was 6ure they could get the money to pay off the existing loan on their present property, and also £11.000 or £12.000 to repay Mr Carnegie; and the stipulation the council would make would be that the Athenaeum Committee should furnish a free public reading room and also a free public reference library, and they could utilise the balance of the building in any way they ohose. It was thought that the City Council might put thorn in the position of sitting rent free— that was, it was assumed that the interest or rents derived from, thoir preso-nt site would amount to about £400. and the City Council could provide the balance of. <^ay. £400, making up the interest and the total sum required— £ls,ooo. That, howevpr. was a cmestion in which the council r.rd the public should have a sav — whether they should take that step and ask Air Carnegie to accept repayment of his gift. The third scheme was to promote legislation ' on the lines outlined ny Mr Barclay— that was. to force the Athenasum people to dissolve, and the Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute would then become a free public library. At present the whole question was in a very unsatisfactory position, and something must be done to make use of the gife or to deal with, it in some way. "**- *.rnok! : Has no further

tion b*M?n leeched from th*» Afhcnseum Committee since its annual meeting. His Worship said no, but he had seen Mr Hutchison, tho chairman of the committee, and told him of the repayment scheme. Mr Hutchison said the scheme was one that appealed to him, and asked that it be reduced to writing &o that he could lay it before the committee. Cr Gilkieon had given notice of the following motion for the next meeting of the C;ty Council: — " (1) That it is desirable as coon as possible to stock the Dunedin Publio Library with standard English literature, and in order to make a commencement a sum of £2500 is now required. (2) That it be, therefore, remitted to the Finance Committee to report as to finding that sum, and also as to providing cost of axmual maintenance — say, £1250. (3) That the General Committee be authorised to attend to all questions relating to staffing, stocking, and management of the library and reading room, subject to funds being provided by the council, and subject to the direction of the council." Mr Barclay said, as to tho proposal to return the money to Mr Carnegie, he thought it was rathsr late in the day to talk of such a thing. The money had been accepted and £6000 of it paid over, and a building had been erected in accordance with the donor's terms and conditions. Now, after two years, they were to turn round and say, " Take back your rnonej'. We don't want it." That would stultify themselves and their past actions by such a course. Mr (Johen also thought the time had gone by to return the money to Mr Carnegie. He moved — "That this committee strongly supports the main principles of Cr Gi'kifeori's motion as tabled, and respectfully requests the City Council to give immediate effect to it, and that a eppy of this resolution b" forwarded to the council." Mr Mackenzie seconded the motion, which was supported by the Hon. Mr Paul, Messrs ; Sidey and Arnold. M P.'s, and Mr Scott. Tho motion was carried unanimously. The meeting went into committee.

be formed wherever possible for the study ol such handbooks as — " From One to Twentyj one," " Sabbath School Methods," ; the api plication of the principles set forth in tb» text-book to the lesson for the week, and that this claaa be conducted under the guidance of the superintendent, minister, or other stiitable person. Each minister to report at next meeting of Presbytery wh*t 'has been done along the lines of these two recommendations.