THE LIBRARY FEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10057, 3 August 1910, Page 5

THE LIBRARY FEE.

RATEPAYERS AND NONKATEPAYERS.

Cr. Rigg drew attention at the Borough Council meeting last evening to the distinction made with regard to subscribers to the Library in the matter of the fee charged to ratepayers and non-ratepayers. The latter had to pay double the amount of the former before he could receive the benefits of the Library, and he considered that'' tbjd was a wrong principle, as the non-ratepayer was 'usually'a working man who was a householder and unable to bear the expense as well as a ratepayer. Ha considered that at least the fee should be the same for either class of subscriber.

Cr. Morris took the opposite view, and said he was of opinion that ratepayers should even be admitted free to the Library, and the nonratepayer charged more than what he is at present. Cr. Pauling considered the fee too high, as a library for the purpose of education and improving a person's mind. He suggested that a committee shoud be appointed to deal with the matter.

Cr. Elliott explained that the charge to non-ratepayers was originally made for more for the purpose of applying to persons resident outside the Boroueh than residents within the Borough. He suggested that the word householder should be included and the same fee as tD a

ratepayer charged. Cr. Temple drew attention to the fact that some subscribers were two or three years in arrears with subscription?. He bad no objection to the fee being a small one, but it should be made payable in advance. Ha moved that th.3 librarian be a ked to submit a return of all .subscribers who are one year in arjears with their subscription

Eventually, after some further discussion it was resolved that the Mayor, Crs Elliott and Temple and the Town Clerk be a committee to go into the matter.