The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1912. THE PICTURE’S PROGRESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 85, 5 December 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1912. THE PICTURE’S PROGRESS.

The moving picture marches on apace, and its great influence is visible in many directions. Not long ago wc referred to the adventurous life of the moving picture men at the front in the present war, and in a little time we may expect to find the up-to-dace picture people in New Zealand showing us some of the work carried out so recklessly in the forefront of the battle. It has now been discovered' that while the influence of the moving picture has its very marked effect on the theatre and the music hall, the public library is also found to suffer in competition with the appealing picture show. The librarian of a London library has noticed during the last three years a decline from 97,000 to 92,000 in tlie number of books issued annually, notwithstanding the fact that the number of borrowers has increased. The obvious deduction is that borrowers are reading less, but the reason was not at first apparent. The weather conditions were considered. Although the summer of 1911 was a particularly fine one, there was no noticeable falling off in the issues during the fine weather. Nor would the general decline in the reading of fiction in public libraries, owing to the large sales of cheap novels, account for the decrease, since not only fiction, but travel, biography, and other departments of literature are equally affected. Finally it was remembered that during the past three years five picture palaces have been erected within ten minutes’ walk from the library referred to, and its librarian says that a few years ago quite a large class of men who could not afford to pay to go to a London music-hall used to come to the library during the evening to borrow a book, while now they prefer a “penn’orth of pictures,” which provides them with a full hour’s amusement. This explanation of an observed decline in reading probably has some truth in it, and even if it has the probability is that no great harm is done, for to spend time looking at such usefully educative pictures as the splendid industrial films which are so deservedly popular, is certainly more mentally elevating than the reading of much that is written to-dav.

A BOOTH MEMORIAL.

Tlie desire to commemorate tlio greatest .humanitarian leader the world lias known is universal in all the countries whore the effect of Ids life work liars keen so marvellously marked. In keeping with its democratic tendencies, the Dominion gave the “new evangel” in its infant days a. square deal, and

the strides made by the “Army” have j been rapid and wonderful. Many monuments to the late General’s good work dot the country from the North Cape to the Bluff, but a tangible mo-1 morial bearing the imprint of a personal culogium is the suggestion thrown out from headquarters. The; late General’s idea was to elaborate a! scheme for the more effective training; of officers, and a College of Humanity had been mentioned by him on several Occasions; but up to the time of. his death it was not found possible to materialise the idea. Now that the memorial proposal has taken root, however, it is proposed to erect a training college in Wellhigtan to accommodate 50 students, or cadets, and the site has been purchased in Wordsworth street. In due course the 'Army will commence the erection of the building, the whole scheme working out at an estimated cost of £lO,000. In a circular letter, Commissioner Richards says: “We purpose making an appeal to the people throughout New Zealand. We have already a fair measure of support for the scheme, and although we have only just completed our ’Self-Denial Appeal, we quite expect that the General Booth Memorial Scheme will meet with approval. We have some money in hand which can be devoted to this

scheme, but it amounts only to about £1500; with other sums in view, we start with £2OOO as a nucleus of the fund, thus leaving £BOOO to raise. 1 am confident that there are many friends throughout the country who for this special purpose would gladly ass’st us. My mind is set on £osoo' as a reasonable sum to be contributed by special donations, and I suggest that within the Dominion the following list of donors is not an impossibility Ten friends at £IOO, £1000; 20 at £SO, £1000; 25 at £2O, £500; 50 at £lO, £500; 100 at £5, £500.” The proposal is one that will appeal to the generosity of all, and we hope to see a consummation of the Army’s hopes in the course of the next few weeks. It will be taken for granted, of course, that donations are not confined to the above sums, but that the smallest contribution will be thankfully received. Our columns are open for the receipt of subscriptions from those who may be disposed to help.