READING ROOM ANNOYANCES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3115, 15 February 1909, Page 4

READING ROOM ANNOYANCES.

(To the Editor). Sir, —1 would very much like someone in authority to inforr" me through the columns of your paper whether talking and smoking are allowed in the Masterton Public Reading Room. At one time notices were posted up in various parts of the room statins; that "smoking and talking were stric.lv prohibited.'" These ■notices are now missing, and it is quite a common thing for people who visit the room to keep up a continual flow of conversation much to the annoyance of persons who go there for the purpose of reading. Several young men in particular seem to go to the reading room for the sole purpose of sitting and conversing with one another. One instance in particular which I noticed was when two ladies entered, the room and sitting down at a table commenced to talk st that all ir. the Toom could hear them. In a few minutes another lady joined the party, and discussions on various topics were soon in full swing. During the time these ladies were in the room not one of them attempted to so much as open a paper. Instances of annoyances of this kind are of diily occurrenc, and I trust that something can be done to abate the nuisance. About a week ago an occupant of the room was calmly smuking a cigarette as he was readingl not caring one jot whether there were ladies present or not. Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., READER.