PENNY READINGS

Southland Times, Issue 951, 15 May 1868, Page 5

PENNY READINGS

(TO THE EDITOB OF THE SOUTHLAND TIJIES.) Sir, — That some systematic course of evening entertainments, at once amusing and instructive, should be provided for the public during the long evenings of winter is a fact which every one admits. That no such provision has yet been made in Invercargill is also a fact,' a fact much to our discredit as an intelligent and progressive community, and one which is . greatly to be deplored by the well disposed : in our midst. It is one thing, however, to regret the existence of a certain state of things, and another to make individual exertions to have the defects rectifiecl, ".and it would appear that, so far as In- .- vercargill is concerned, while there are plenty who grumble loud enough at the absence of any means of social and intellectual enjoyment for the masses, there are few indeed who seem willing to submit to the per**^ sonal inconvenience and the interruption to their domestic, or other enjoyments, which the lending of an efficient and continued assistance in the inauguration and carrying on of such a scheme would necessarilly entail. These remarks are induced by the consideration that two or three months ago— as your readers will : recollect -— a vigorous, but, as it has turned out, spasmodic effort was made by • a few gentlemen who were ever foremost in a good cause, to set on foot a series of entertainments now everywhere so popular, and commonly known as Penny .- Headings. Several meetings were held, ' at which, though not numerously atten-' ( ded, .the matter was taken up so .enthusiastically as to warrant the anticipation of the most successful results. At the last of these introductory meetings, business had satisfactorily proceeded so far as to . justify the appointment of an interim committee, with full powers to arrange for the first readings, a sufficient number of gentlemen had given in their names as willing tb contribute their quota to .the entertainment, to make the first night's programme, both diversified enough and of ample length. "When the meeting broke up it was with the understanding that the first reading might be expected within a few following days, a "week at farthest, but there the matter rests. It appears that the immediate cause of the postponement of the first entertainment was the advent of the Heir Dramatic company, when of course . the Theatre could not be had, and when, probably, even had another place of meeting been secured, an audience could riot have been collected; Ybiit it further appears, and this is the worst aspect of the case, that with the temporary cessation of action on the part of the committee their enthusiasm quietly oozed out at their fingers' ends, gently allowing them to dissolve into their original units. Thus the Penny Reading Society, as a great many other Associations of loftier title have done in our good ' town, finds its grave in a committee. The circumstance of so many popular movements coming to a standstill at this stage of their existence naturally leads one to examine the construction of these committees, and it must be apparent to anyone tolerably well acquainted with our citizens, that the same names occur .with suggestive frequency — suggestive because the conclusion is inevitable that these members are oftener appointed on account of their social and commercial standing, than because of any particular fitness for the position' to which they are elected:; otherwise, why so hiany cases of failurb with which they are" connected ? This matter of a working, energetic, harmonious committee, is really the stumbling block in all bur attempts at organisation. It has been shown that there would have been no lack of performers had the Penny Headings been once fairly started. lam awarethat, there were plenty of offers of assistance in the shape of readings, recitations, essays, lectures, and music ; but while plenty are thus willing to give most effective help in the public eye,few or none

,will, consent to perform the unseen and "tinadkhbwiedged drudgery absolutely necessary to" place an entertainment of any , kind decently before the public. 1 However, I would not in any way throw cold water on the subject, : but rather, incite to renewed effort. With the example of. the Ladies' Bene: *_; vblent Society before our eyes, which has worked most successfully now for a number of years, we need not altogether despair. Surely if a committee of ladies - can be got, who, in the midst of domestic duties, can nnd time to conduct a society, the very nature of which indicates that its management entails more than ordinary labor, and requires a great amount of -tact, delicacy, and judgment, therd can be got a sufficient number of gentlemen having time and talent enough at their disposal Jto.carry out successfully a projee^'sd' simple "as the Penny Reading \novement ; a movement which, if set on! foot, must, dnd will confer great benefits on the community generally, but more especially on the working classes. — I am, Sir, yours &c, Citizen". ' Invercargill, 3rd May, 1868.