MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 915, 9 February 1882, Page 2

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

A meeting of the members of the above. . j Institute was held last Tuesday;.- -J evening, for the purpose of considering . ;] the advisability of closing- the«reading : j room on Sundays. I Dr Haye3, President, occupied the- I chair, and about 26 members were- J present. "1 After the President had read the ad-. I vertisement calling the meetiug, Mr- I Harrop said as he was the first mover ■ in this matter, he would now move that. I rule 1 4 he rescinded. He was glad so. I many were present as it showed an in- I terest was taken in the Institute. His I reason for taking this step was that -the- I Institute w?~. not self-supporting, that its. .■ funds were getting very low, and-if tha. _.H reading-room was closed on Sundays he". . I knew a great many more would join. I Mr Gray seconded the motion and quite- I endorsed Mr H irrop's views. There were I some present who might remember the- H struggle they had in getting a respectable B library in the Institute, and now they'M ought to take care of it. When the read-. ■ ing-room was opened on Sunday it was H held that it would increase the funds, but H the balance sueet showed that object had. H not been attained. It would have been. H more successful if it ha-; been closed^^M He knew several who would attend if tfc<rß place v\ as closed on Sundays, some of H whom would give lectures and do every-. H thing to assist the. Institute. In a small H place like this all the assistance H could get was necessary, and he now. H trusted that everyone who had the good H of the Institute at heart would vote, for M closing it. Mr HayhurHt did nnt like going in forchanging too often. Ho had opposed-ihe. opening of the Institute on the ground that there was no advantage in it, and he. would oppose closing it now on the same ground. It was then said there were a ereat many men in lodgings to whom the opening would be a great boon as it would: keep them from the public house, and now. they were told that gentlemeu of influence would come if it were closed. What guarantee had- fl^| thfy that these gentlemen wotit_ ;ome forward Why were thej^^^f

not there that evening to vote 1 That would be the test of their sincerity. He did not believe in changing, and therefore he would vote in favor of keeping it open. The President wiehed to correct some misunderstanding that had arisen. It had been said that the members had decreased since the opening of the Institute on Sundays. This was not the fact. The Institute was first opened on Sundays on July 30, 1878, by 24 votes against 7. For the three yaars previous to the opening the reports showed that in 1875 the subscription was £4O 3s 6d, and there were 40 members. The 1870 report could not be found. In 1877 subscriptions were £4l 12s, and the list cf members 53. Subsequent to tli3 opening the results were :—in 1878 the subscriptions weie £52 7s 3d ; number of members 60. In 1879, £46 18s ; number of members 79. In 1880, £69 0s 6d; number of members, 81. In 1881, £44 2s 6d ; number of members, 49. The average previous s to the closing was £4O 17s 9d ; the subsequent. average £53 2s o|-d. This clearly proved fbeTf nstitute had gained by the change. Wl&r Brown pointed out that nearly 40 members had been lost last year. Mr Hayhurst said that was no criterion. Last year was a year of great depression. , The President said the failing off was due to the hard times, and those who fell off were poop ! e w o could not pay

Mr Gray said that as regards the statement made by the president that he (Mr Gray) had made inaccurate statements he might say he had no means of looking up the statistics, but he thoughtthey were well informed on the subject. u hen the place was opened, men came who paid their subscriptions and never visited the place after-.vards. It could not be shown it had benefitted the Institute one single bit, and it was not a benefit to more than two members. He had often come to see whether the reading room was used on Sundays and never saw more than two in -"it. If the place was closed he would guarantee six members would join immediately. Mr Harrop said he would guarantee fchree members. Mr Hayhurst moved —"That rule 14 remain as it is." Mr Whitehead seconded the motion. Mr Brown pointed out that this was not an amendment on the former motion. Mr Hayhu-st's motion was declared out of order. Mr E;3'ry was sorry Mr Harrop had taken the wind out of his sails. The late, and also the present, Premier of England liar] spoken against opening the museums on Sundays, and if they had b'-en in Temukti would have voted against opening the Mechanics' Institute. Mr Franks said lie was glad to have the Institute open on Sundays. 1+ suited the convenience of a great many who availed themselves of it. He had seen aa many as five or six members there at one time . on Sundays. The librarian was not kept fiom church through the Institute being open. He could go if he liked, [t was a great triumph to have it open on Sundays. It was a iriumph of civilisation over superstition Mr Essery's arguments were ridiculous. There was a time when it was thought wrong to laugh on Sunday's, to caress one's child, or to kiss one's wife, but tl ese times were past by, and he would be sorry to have them back again. It would be going back to those .. days to close the Institute now on Sundays.

Mr Mackay was astonished at hearing people speak as they did. It was quite evident the librarian could not go to church on Sundays while the place was open. Supposing a fire took place in his absence, what would be the consequence ? He did not like to hear sfattments which were not borne out by facts. It was quite necessary for the librarian to rema : n in the Institute on Sundays while it was kept open. The President said there was nothing in the rules to keep him from going to church Mr Mackay : He must look after the place. MrMendelson said it was not expected of him to watch everyone that oame or went. His remuneration was too small to expect that of him. Mr Twomey said they might go more practically to work by ascertaining how many were benefitted by the opening, and how many were likely to join if the Institute were closed on Sundays They had been guaranteed nine new members if the Institute were closed on Sundays, and so far as he could lenrn there were only two or three members making use of the readinsr-room on Sundays. He would ask these two or three to make a sacrifice and agree.to close the Institute so as to meet the views of those who from conscientious convictions could not belong to the Institute while it was kept open on Sundays. He had been given to understand that the ministers of religion were opposed to it. This was a very serious ronsideration. They must have great influence with their flocks, and their countenance or discountenance would have great influence in increasing or decreasing the number of members. The matter was ' too small to quarrel over. It was not worth while, aud he would suggest to call in the luru-iau and ascertain from him how rrisny were in the habit of attending on .7,s:\cays.

This suggestion having been adopted, the librarian in reply to questions said there were not more than two or three making use of the reading-room on Sundays and about ten on week days. Mr Hayburst moved as an amendment on Mr Harrop's motion—" That the question be deferred for six months." He had voted against changing before, and would vote against it now. The falling off last year was due to a falling off in the population. They coul 1 see how many houses were empty now, and two years ago they could not be got at all. The men who fell off from the Institute were those who were out of employment. There were nine members guaranteed, but no one knew how many would fall away through it, and therefore he would submit they would not be warranted in changing. The Premier of England maj be a good governor of a country, but a bad manager of a Mechanics Institute. Everyman had hobb'es and it was possible the Premier of England's hobby was to keep Institutes closed on Sundays. He could not see there was any falling off through any cause other than what they had no control over. As far as making friends of the parsons went, there was not much good in that, If they wished to benefit the place why did they not come forward that night and give their opinions. They would havo done this if they had considered the good as well as the ills of the questions. It was a matter of agreement keeping the librarian there on Sundays. His (Mr Hayhurst's) servants had to stay in on Sundays, and it could not be avoided. They were creatures of circumstances,, and Lad to put up with it, and it was so with the librarian. He would move that the consideration of the question be deferred for six months. Mr Ashwell seconded the amendment.

Mr Gray said the great object had been lost sight of—the Institute had not improved financially. A great deal bad been spent in fire and. lighting, and. in paying the librarian, which might be saved if the Institute were closed. They were to find m oney for books, and to make the Institute attractive and popular, and it was their duty to do evarything they could to increase their list of member". They had been told the condition of the Institute was a disgrace to the place, and he would say it was due to its being open on Sundays. It was a great mistake in a lillle place like this to keep anyone away, [t wou.d be better to let the two members who made use of it on Sundays go than keep a large number away, but he did not believe thsy would leave. They were not likely to receive any assistance from the Government, and therefore it behoved them to do all they could in furthering the Institute financially. If gentlemen who could deliver lectures would join, as he could guarantee they would if the Institute was closed on Sundays, it would help them very much iu i'Ugmeuiing the funds. He therefore hoped that all present would vote in favor of closing.

Mr Job Brown said it was three years since the question was first brought forward, and marvellous things bad boeu promised. Up to that time everything was going on well. Those in favor of keeping closed beac tbo.°e in favor of ope Ding at first, but subsequently Tom, Dick and Harry were got together for the very purpose of opposing those in favor of upholding the spcredness of the Lord's Day. The well-being of the Institute was a secondary consideration, and the motion for opening it was carried. Men were bunted up, merely through a spirit rf opposition, to come and vote who never since had put in an appearance. Great things were promised then, but he would ask now where were the great things 1 They had a reduction of nearly 40 mem- . bers last year, and when he read the report of the Institute he felt it was a disgrace for a place like Temuka to have its . Institute in such a miserable conditionThe position could be improved, and the way to do it was to close it on the Lord's Day. After the place had been open on Sundays he had often looked in to see whether anyone availed themselves of it, and he had never seen anyone in the reading-room. Men were hunted up from all parts to vote, and. the object of these men was to curry favor with those in favor of openingit. There was a spirit of jealousy and determination against the upholders o" tbesacrednessof the Lord's Day manifested, and men were brought to vote from Mr Quinn'sfor no other object than this. In cases where they had not money to pay their subscription it was paid for them. Now these were Dever seen in the place. He would ask where they were now ? Mr McS. Gentlemua : Some of them are dead, and some ot them gone away, and I also am one of them.

Mr Brown contiuued to say that if only two men attended on Sunday, they co uld alter the law so that these might take papers home and read them on Sundays. He hoped the good sense of the meeting would see that it w;is to the advantage of the Institute to close. The two or three who were converdenced ought to give way for the benefit of the Institute. The good ot the Institute was what they ought to look to, and besides this there would be considerable saving. He would bring six new members, or if he did not he would make it good at the end of the year. Mr Esfery paid he would give £SO out of his own pr.ckec to see it closed, if lie could afford it.

j Mr Meudelson said the question involved a very serious principle. One section said they did not look to the religious, but to the financial aspect of the question, and another guaranteed 12 members if the Institute was closed on Sundays. It would be a fearful disgrace to go back from civilization to heathenism now. When they opened this Institute on Sundays, Timaru, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Auckland followed them. If a guaarantee was given that 12 new members could be got, lie would be in favor of closing, though lie considered it a disgrace.

Messrs Gray, Harrop, and Brown promised to guarantee that they would bring 12 new members.

Mr Franks said he felt very keenly the remarks made by Mr Biown to the effect that men were hunted up specially to vote for opening the Institute on Sundays.

Mr Brown rose to explain and a rather warm discussion ensued, which was brought to a close by Mr Mackay stating that he had asked many to join the Institute, but he met with the answer, they would not while it was open on Sundays. He had never seen a Mechanics' Institute allowed to go down so low as this. It may be because it was open on Sundays, or it may be the fault of the management, but so it was, and it was their duty to find out the cause. They would evidently have to do something or the Institute could not live at the rate it was going on. Mr Gray said Mr Mendelson had said his arguments had only the strength of milk and water. Considering Mr Men. delson was such a good financier he ought to see that the way he (Mr Gray) showed how a saving would be effected by closing, and gain by lecturing, the benefit financially to the Institute was moie than milk and water. As for Mr Mendelson saying that to close the Institute on Sunday would be going back from civilization to heathenism he would point out that Mr Mendelson was the only heathen present. The President said that before putting the motion he .vished to correct some statements made.

Mr Gray said the President had no right to correct any statement. His business was to put the motion and no more. He would move that the President put the motion now. Mr Harrop seconded the motion,

Mr Twomey said the President had a perfect right to offer his opinions .is well as any other member. He was a membe of the Institute, and it would be a mosj extraordinary proceeding to prevent him from giving his Opinion on any question which might arise as well as any other member.

Mr Hayhurst moved, and Mr Franks seconded, that the President bo allowed to Hiiikp a statement

Mr Gray still persisled in opposing the President speaking, and after some warm discussion the President vacated the chair which was taken by the vice-President Mr O'Halloran.

The President said he wished to correct some statements made. Mr Brown had said tli; t men had been hunted up to vote and their subscriptions paid for them ; and that they were worth nothing as they never afterwards attended The number of members before and nfter the opening would show that to be wrong. The first year it was open the members increased from 53 to 60, the second year to 79, and the third year to 81. There was a steady increase till last year, when there was a falMng but still it was better than before it was open. Mr Brown had said the report of last year w a disgrace, but he would find that it was much better than before the Sunday ooening Mr Brown had spoken of the sacredness of the Lord's Day, and in the next breath suggested making laws to enable members to take papers home to read on Sundays. As for lectures he could find no record of 1 any having been delivered before the Institute was open on Sundays, Lut there wns one delivered since. Mr Gray : Oh, yes ! there were two. The President continued to say that the best guarantee that new members would come would have been to have them present that evening. If he could be shown that it would benefit the Institute 'o close it on Sundays he would vote in favor of it. How long had Mr Brown been a member 1 He had only joined that evening with the object of carrying his views. Mr Brown had not stuok to the Institute through good report and evil report like others, but had come now to carry out his own views.

Mr Hayhurst paid the promise of new members was a proposition to purchase the votes of members, and he hoped no one would take the slightest notice of the matter. Why were not those men here so thae they might see them ? How did they know they would not have to blackball them ? Let them come and show themselves —from Quinn's, or Brown's, or anywhere they could be got. Mr Harrop said it w»s no question of buying votes. The members who would come were gentlemen who.ie conscientious convictions would not allow them to be present while the institute was open on Sundays. After a few more remarks the meeting divided, resulting in 13 being in f-ivor of keeping the Institute open on Sundays, and 9 in favor of closing. There were Mi;•()•■■ or four members who did not vote i () Q either side.

The President then declared the amendment shelving the question carried, and the meeting terminated.