PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 18 January 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, are invited on Farming. Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed.

“ THE INSTITUTE AGAIN.” The reviews for October simply have not- arrived. It may be, as in a former case with other literature, through a mistake of the despatching officials at Home, that what is missing has gone to New Brunswick instead of coming to New Zealand. The misses are annoying, but the annoyers are 16,000 miles away, and cannot conveniently be scruffed as they deserve to be. The Institute officials are therefore blameless, the local agent is helpless, and in case of non-delivery will have to bear the loss. This is a common experience with all news-agents. Want of money is undoubtedly the reason why Nineteenth Century , Modern , and other reviews and new books are not obtained. London publishers will have cash ahead. The local institute is invariably behind with its payments. There are comparatively few “ review ” readably inclined people in small towns. Patea, only recently grown from a township, is no exception, as the uncut leaves in many old date reviews will prove. Institute complaints are chronic all over the colony, and even further afield. The generaljpjihlic will not support them. The ‘ readably inclined are not numerous enough to get all the reading they require for the small sum they usually can either afford or are inclined to pay. Quantity and quality are both called for, with managerial attention equal to large towns, but only at “ cheap” rates. Why is it the general public will not support literary institutes ? Simply because they are not readably inclined, or prefer reading over a tot or at home. The local newspapers are more than sufficient for the requirements of the majority. Such as want more can get rich variety in any one of the Australian weeklies, or weeklies published in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, or Otago, for sixpence. And there is no waiting turns as at an institute. A purchased paper can be read at leisure, lent to a neighbor, and is useful after passing through even many hands. This serves most people. The well-to-do wanting a special class of reading, either obtain supplies through colonial booksellers, or “ club ” and procure direct from England, one frequently acting as newsagent for the rest, thus making them independent of the Institute. They simply “ patronise ” institutes. It is no use howling at the general public because their taste does not lie in institutes, nor pestering the rich who don’t require them. Keadables who want reading, with wide-armed welcoming cushioned chairs and other tip-top conveniences, should either furnish the only real requirement—money—(by touting or otherwise), or the energetic management. Providing the money would ensure success, and furnishthe other gratis would be helpful, I should like to say more, but fear, the editor’s warning for brevity . James Kenworthy.