FREE LIBRARY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3347, 13 September 1879, Page 1

FREE LIBRARY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star,) Sib,—The Free Library Act is Per. missive, and can only come into operation as the result of a public, poll of the ratepayers. The amount of rate is limited, and cannot be more than one penny in the pound on tbe annual value, or ono twelreth part as much as the ordinary rate. It is therefore trnly a poor man's Act, and ought to receire the rote of erery working man. It can only- be expected that, if opposed at nil, it would ba by large property owners, whose payment would bo more than my personal benefit receired; bnt eTen in their case, they would be providing for their tenants or work-people. To intro* : duce the .Act, more than a majority is , required, as there must be at least six i in favor for fire against, to carry the day, i and if lost now, two years mast elapse before another poll can be taken on the same subject. Whererer • the Act his been tried in Britain, the results hare. , exceeded the hopes even of the promoters* Being in the hands of a Public Elective Body, its management will be as popular as possible, and will most likely provide I for a reading room, free to til. .and a circulating Horary free to all above a certain age, who may be recommended by ratepayers. So roll up every one on Monday, and record your votes in iti: favor.—l am, Ac, * ; : JAMKS REN3H4TT. (To the Editor of th« Evening Star.) Sib,—Hearing it greatly talked about having a Free Library, I only hope that our community will have the good sense to adopt the course suggested: for their own good. .Now, we have free schools for our children, which ail admit is the best way to educate them, and some of our children who are now going tothesesehools, in a few years will be old enough to attend . our Free Library.. It is not for the good that it will do us who are grown up, and too old and ignorant to try to learnJs Some may think that the Advertiser and Star tell all tbe news,- but they give vi but very little information of the outside world. How nice it would be for our children to be coming in from our Borough Free Library, and telling us of all the news they have read while there. I say to fathers of families, do not miss this opportunity you have now before you, that of having a Free Library,; the ; chance that never came before us in .the mother conntry. when we were boys.—l am, &c, J. C. Williams.

ELECTION PLEDGES.

To the Editor of the Etbnino Stab.

Sib, —Prior to the withdrawal of the local candidates in faror of Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan. I pledged myself to support one of them. The withdrawal from the contest of the man I promised to ■ support induces me to betters I am quite justified in withdrawing my pledge to rote lor him. A canvasser for the candidate referred, to thinks differently, and we hare a bet of two pounds to one on the ques« tion, I giving the odds, and hare agreed to ask you kindly to decide it.—l am, &c, . . ■ ■ ■ , Eltctob; [It is our opinion that. " Elector ■' is rijjlit, and has won the wager. He was only pledged for that election, which is now- orer. The forthcoming election it an entirely separate one; besides, since the pledge was given, the circumstances , have entirely changed, and it would bo „ manifestly unfair to voter:), and to candidates who may yet be in the field, to seek . to hold electors to pledges gi**tt ; for a former contest.—Ed. E.S.] ■"*■*