SECOND READING. (Hansard, 24 July 1890)

§ LORD HOUGHTON
In asking your Lordships to give this Bill a Second Reading, I need not detain you at any length. This Bill has come to your Lordships from the other House, where it was backed by Members of all Parties, and where it met with no opposition of any kind at any stage It was slightly amended in one or two particulars, as I shall explain to your Lordships in a few moments. I think at this time of day it is quite unnecessary to enter into any elaborate defence of the system of Public Libraries paid for out of the rates. I think your Lordships will all agree they have been of great benefit to the districts which have adopted them. The only charge I have ever heard brought against Public Libraries is that too many novels are read at them. But when you consider that the persons who use these Libraries are naturally obliged to use them more for the purpose of recreation than of study, I do not think that charge can be regarded as a very serious one. Just to show your Lordships how the matter stands, I will explain shortly what the previous legislation on the subject has been. The first Act under which Public Libraries were formed was passed in the year 1850, and the first Public Library was opened at Manchester two years later. Since then the Act has been 670 amended in the years 1855, 1877, and 1887, and last year. For some time after the passing of the first Act the formation of Public Libraries did not make any very great progress; but the statistics of later years show a much more satisfactory result. In 1879 there were only 87 Public Libraries open; in 1886 there were 133, and at this moment there are 209, being an increase of 76 in the last four years. At the same time, it would be a mistake to suppose that districts are always ready to adopt Public Libraries. On the contrary, there have been as many as 12 refusals in one year after the matter had been submitted to the ratepayers. Some supporters of this movement go as far as to say that the time has now arrived when a poll might be dispensed with altogether, and when Public Libraries might be formed on the motion of the Local Authority only. This Bill which I have the honour to present to your Lordships does not go so far as that, though I am bound to say that if such a proposition was made, I should, for my own part, not be prepared to oppose it. There is no doubt that the cost of the poll, which in some cases amounts to hundreds of pounds, is regarded by the ratepayers as a serious obstacle to having a Public Library at all. As regards the Bill itself, its object is, I think, clearly stated in the Memorandum annexed to it. Clause 1 substitutes for the very broad electorate which now votes on this matter, in boroughs the burgesses of the borough, and in counties the county electors registered in respect of their qualifications in the district. The object of that is to carry out what is supposed to have been the intention of Parliament in consolidating all the local franchises into one, and also to give a clear and authoritative list of the persons who would be entitled to vote for this object. Upon Clause 2 the Memorandum is not exactly accurate. It was originally proposed that in places having a population of less than 5,000 the proceedings should be, if it is so desired, by public meeting and not by voting papers. An Amendment was, however, introduced in the other House on the ground that public meetings cause a good deal of needless trouble and expense to the ratepayers, and that Amendment was accepted by the promoters of the Bill, Therefore, as the 671 Bill now stands, the proceedings will be in every case by voting papers. Clause 3 enables voters to state, if they so desire, and if a request has previously been made accordingly, that they wish to have a halfpenny or three-farthings rate instead of the statutory penny rate. Clause 5 prevents the question, when once it has been settled by a vote, being re-opened for a year from the time that the poll was taken. Clause 7, which is, I think, one of some importance, enables Ecclesiastical, Parochial, and Charitable Bodies to convey their property, under proper restrictions, for purposes connected with Public Libraries. Clause 13 states that the Bill does not extend to Scotland or Ireland; and, as far as Scotland is concerned, the reason is a very good one—that Scotland has already a very good Public Libraries Act, which was passed in 1887, and from which, in fact, many of the provisions in this Bill are borrowed. With this short explanation I appeal with confidence to your Lordships to read the Bill a second time, and to allow it to pass in the shape in which it has come from the other House.

* THE EARL OF MEATH
My Lords, this Bill appears to be a very desirable one, but there is one clause in it which was inserted at the very last moment when it passed the other House. I refer to Clause 8. I do not think the other House or the noble Lord who has addressed your Lordships intended that this clause should have the effect which it undoubtedly will have in regard to open spaces. By this clause any land which is left, we will say, as an open space for ever, for the benefit of the citizens of this Metropolis, or of any other large town, might be alienated from that purpose. It might be either given away or sold or exchanged for a Public Library; and I know one piece of ground in a very densely-populated part of London which, under this clause, might be built upon which would involve a very great loss to the people. It would be possible for the Trustees, if they liked, to sell that open space for the purpose of building upon it a Public Library. I do not imagine that the noble Lord desires that this Bill should have that 672 effect, and I therefore propose in Committee to move the addition to Clause 8 of the following words:— Provided also that land held on trust to he possessed as an open space or on trusts which prohibit building thereon shall not be granted or conveyed for the purposes of this Act.

* THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (The Earl of JERSEY)
My Lords, I think it will be hardly necessary for me to say anything upon this Bill. Though it is not a Government measure, yet it had the assent of the Government in the other House of Parliament and I do not suppose it will meet with much opposition in this House. It there should be any Amendment to be made, it can, of course, be made in Committee.

§ LORD HOUGHTON
As far as I am concerned, I cannot conceive that there could be any objection to accepting the Amendment proposed by the noble Lord provided it does not go further than he has stated.