HAWERA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9131, 4 June 1880, Page 2

HAWERA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

At the annual meeting of the Hawera Institute and Public Library, held on Saturday last, the following discussion took place on the question of the subsidy :— Mr Thomson wished the meeting to give the newly-elected Committee power to deal to the fullest extent with tlie matter of tlie subsidy. The late Committee had made every inquiry, and they came to the conclusion that the Wanganui Education Board had dealt with the subsidy without knowing anything about what they wore doing. The late Committee had written to the Government, and it was for the meeting to say whether they would strengthen the hands of the new Committee in obtaining what they believed they were fully entitled to, according to the Act. The Education Board said they could not grant a subsidy on moneys collected by entertainments, and they also objected to the Committee using the money in lining and furnishing the building. The definition of " voluntary contributoins " was not so easy to decide, but so far as lio could soo by the Public Libraries Act, there was no stipulation whatever as to tlie way the money should be raised. Mr Tucker proposed tlie following resolution : — "That the Committee investigate the cause of the withholding of the public libraries' voluntary subscriptions subsidy from the Hawera Institute." Sir White said that last year their statement was sent in exactly in the sumo nay as it had been done this year, and they had got paid. In previous years they received their subsidies from .New Plymouth, and the statement had always been sent in just as it had been this year. The money voted by the County Council did not come out of the pockets of the residents in either the Rangitikci or Wanganui counties, and therefore no injustice would be done to them by a proportionate sum being voted to tlie Hawera Institute. Mr King understood that if the County Council granted £500 to the hospital, the Government gave a, similar amount, lie could not see wliy (ho library 'should not be able to gut tlulr in a similar manner. Mr Bate said tho Wanganui Education Board wore very particular so far as re-

garded the Hawora Institute. Although a statutory declaration had been made that did not even satisfy them. He did not believe they were quite so particular with institutes in othor places, especially in Wanganui. Mr Barleyman said there appeared to bo an understanding, from what had fallen that evening, that be had not worked harmoniously with the Committee ; but he knew of only one difference that he had with them, and that was with reference to the matter then before tiie • meeting. He thought the wiser course would have boen for the Commit-, tee to have furnished the various items to the Wanganui Education Board, as requested. In his opinion there could be no reasonable doubt that the Library was entitled to a subsidy on the amount received from subscriptions, entertainments, and bazaars, but he was not quite clear as to the vote from the County Council. He felt that they had been unjustly treated, and that the sub* sidy had been wrongfully withheld from them. Mr Bate said that a telegram from ttie committee had been ignored alto* gether, and he felt that the Education Board had acted in a partial manner. Mr Galvin supported the resolution, but regretted that the Committee had not complied with the demand of the Wanganui Education Board. The meeting then adjourned. — Hawera Star. • ■