§ Mr. JESSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that several municipal authorities have been compelled to close public libraries on account of the insufficiency of the rate-income as limited by present-day legislation, whilst many other local authorities are faced with a similar step in the immediate future unless some measure is introduced which will empower local authorities to rate themselves for the provision of literature to an amount in excess of 1d. in the £ on the rateable values of their districts; and whether, in view of the contemplated extensions in the educational policy of the nation, he will consider the desirability of providing an early means to avoid the breakdown of the public library system of the country?
§ Mr. FISHERI am aware of the difficulties under winch Public Libraries are labouring, and the matter is under consideration