10
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987.
Signposts to PROGRESS 62)
T
When Will the Book-Worms
BE book which I took down reverently from the public library shelt
was one of the." Er-yes- I-have-heard-of-it" kind.
Reverently, Because when i had roviewed it, I had felt that I was writing not so much a review an an epitaph, that instead of Every-
body ought to read this book," it ahould have been, "Here lies an excellent work which died becauso there were not enough intelligent people to keep it alive."
Now, I looked at the slip which keeps a tally of the number of do- mands. To say that I was aur- prised is to put it mildly; I was flabbergasted,
It had been, as the librarian said, "round the houses," from the bus-driver to the bricklayer, from the furnace-mdn to the clly clerk,. from the draughtsman to the machine-minder, from one to the other, week after week, month after month, in constant demand.
I spent the rest of the morning, In that library at Dagenham, doing what every author should do to replenish his courage and every reviewer to strengthen his judg mont.
I examined the slips of books on science, philo- sophy, psychology. reli- gion, economics, social problems. politics, mechanies, applied physics and craftsmen's boots.
Every kind which would pro- vide an index of the inquiring intelligence, the cultural quent, and the upward thrust of a com- munity, Yes, eych modern. pootry, the little orphan Annite of present-day literature, was in de- mand.
Of this demand for non-fictio iterature, economics and social problems probably bulked largest. but even more illuminating was the demand for highly specialised books.
We find," Mr. John G. O'Leary, the chief librarian, told me, "that a worker, spending his days in a semi-skilled routine job-minding a machine for example-will ask for a specialised book dealing with the whole theory of the internal combustion, engine to which he may be contributing just a screw or a bolt.
"For instance, we had a request for a book on blast furnace practice, highly technical and scientific. It costs ten gulnens, Go we bor- rowed it. Then others started to clamour for it. We bought it and stocked it. It was in constant de- mand: Now wo have to have four volumes"
District Railway motormen will study the latest works on electric traction.
Why pick on Dagenham? I might, in writing of libraries, have chosen Glasgow, which has the biggest
WISDOM
Hbrary area. Or Cardiff, where every man, woman and child "owns" two books in the public library, in the sense that there are more books per head of popula- tion, and more books borrowed than In any other city in Britain.
Or Bradford, which is "runner- up" for the title of the best-read city.
Or Liverpool. which Issueя 6,841,000 books a year.
has,
Or Birmingham, which numerically, the biggest municipal library in the country-925,000 books.
Or Leeds, where, in the service of industry, all the German patent specifications are kept, and every Lhing." In any language, on the wool-trade, is filed for reference.
Or Shefeld, where, through the public library, the industrial con- cerns lend each other books.
Or, for that matter, Middle Clay- don, in Buckinghamshire, which, with a population of 150, of whom
TURN?
30 are registered borrowers, Dog- 50858 3,380 books.
I could, in fact, have chosen as examples to be followed, or in acores of cases, to be avoided, any one of the 519 local authorities which possess public libraries.
But I picked upon Dagenham be- cause of ita exceptional circum- stances, and to show what a really enlightened authority can under the greatest difficulties.
do
4
was £
Consider the circum- stances: Fifteen years ago Dagenham rural community with 9,000 popu- lation. To-day it is an unchartered city with a population of 105000. London lind suddenly opened its doors and poured into Essex Its "pent-up population. The L.C.C. had bullt Becontree. the biggest housing enterprise in the world.
Dagenham, with no one who had. had any experience of local gov ernment, had to create a council
THE TAIKOO DOCKYARD & ENGINEERING COMPANY
OF HONGKONG, LIMITED.
BUILDERS OF ALL CLASSES OF SHIPS.
BUILDERS OF RECIPROCATING STEAM ENGINES. BUILDERS OF MARINE AND LAND BOILERS.
BUILDERS OF TURBINE MACHINERY
Under Licence From Messrs. Pa sons.
BUILDERS OF DIESEL ENGINES'
Under Special Licence From Messrs. Sulzer Bros., Winterthur,
Licensed To Manufacture Lanz Perlit Iron, Specially Suitable For Internal Combustion Engine Working Parts.
DOCK & SLIPWAYS
FOR DOCKING VERY LARGE, AS WELL AS SMÅLLER VESSELS,
ON ANY TIDE.
ALL CLASSES OF SHIP, ENGINE AND BOILER
REPAIRS
AND EXTENSIVE welding, BOTH ELECTRICAL AND
OXY-ACETYLENE, SKILFULLY AND PROMPTLY CARRIED OUT.
Tel. Address "Taikoodock" Hongkong. Telephono No. 30211.
Call Flag: "Numoral Ono" over "Pennant Ani."
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents HONGKONG, CHINA & JAPAN
by
Ritchie
CALDER!
which would provide all the compulsory services, on a low rateable value,
Industries came, but derating had turned them from a poten- tial asset into a heavy liability. They demanded services, such as drainage. They brought in more and more people.
In that nightmare of local government, a library could ex- cusably have been forgotten. For a library is a voluntary' ser- vice which no local authority nced undertake-if it has not got a conscienco.
Consider now what happened. In 1030, they decided to create 'n library.
Even to-day the penny rate yields barely £2,000, and those pennies Bro sorely needed for services which the Acts of Par- liament com- pel them to provide.
HONGKONG AND SILANGHAI
BANKING CORPORATION,
Authorised" Ompftal_
ted and Fully Fald-up
Ieserra Funda (
20,000,000
Bierling ............................ £ 1,800,000
Hongkong Currency Reserve $10,000,000
· Reserve, Lilability of Proprietors $20,000,909
HEAD OFFICE-HONGKOND,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Hon. Mr. J. J. Patarson, Chairman.
G. Miskin, Fac.. Deputy Chairmen.
A. . Compton, Esq. K. Morrison, Fede tion. Mr. B. 11. Dodwell, T. E. Pearce Eag
Hon. Mr. M. Ti Johnson, A. Ļ. Bhields, Des..
J. It. Masson, a..
AMOY
LNOKOK
V. M. "GRAYDURN E.,
QUIER MANAGER,
BATAVIA BOMBAY CALCUTTA CANTON
CHIEFOO
Í GOLOMBO
DAIREN FOOCHOW HAIPHONG AMHURG. BANKOW HARMIN
HONGKEW
ILOILO fron
SORORE KOLE
KOWLOON
BRANCHES 1-
KUALA LUMPUR
LONDON
LYONS MALACCA
MANILA
MUAR DHORE)
MUKDEN
NEW YORK
PEIPINA
PENANG RANGOON
BAIGON
SAN FRANCISCO
SHANGHAI
SINGAPORE
BOURABAYA
BUNIKI PATANI TIENTSIN
TOKYO TSINGTAO
YOKOHAMA
Current Accounts opened in Local Currenty and Fixed Deposits received for one year of shorter periola in Local Currency and Sterling on terms which will be quoted on
•pplention.
ALSO up to date HAVE DEPOSIT BOXES in various al TO LET.
Hongkong. at Narember, 1938.
HONGKONG SAVINGS BANK.
Jurted by the Hongkong and Shanghal Bank
The Hualnean of the above Bank la cap- ing Corporation. tufes may be obtained on
polleation. FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION
V. M. GRATBURN,
Chief Msonger. Hongkong, 24th Februars. 1030,
THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA,
Incorporated by Royal Charter 1825, Fald-up Capital Reserve Liability of Proprietors... £2,000,001 Reserve Fund
£5,000,00
£3,000,004
AGENCIES AND BRANCHES
11.01L0
BAIGON
POR
BEMARANG
KARACHI
BEREMTAN
Yet in the
ALOR STAR AMRUTBAR intoreat of GANGROX culture, en- BATAVIA
21 BOMNAY lightenment, CALCUTTA fruitful lol- CANTON
11 re and community COLOMBO
CAWNFORE VEDU
service, VELI
BAIPHONG
KLANG
· KONE
KUALA
KUCHING
LUMPUR
MADRAS MANILA
NEW YORK
MEDAN
PEIPING
(Peking)
Dagenham is HAMBURG prepared to BANKOW
HARUIN lovy ก 51d. HONGKONG RANGOON
rate
the
highest in Britain-for its libraries. Compare that with Westminster. the wealthiest of all local authorl- ties, where the penny rate brings in £40,000, and the library levy is id.
In six years nearly 80,000 books have been provided.
PENANO
SHANGHAI SITIAWAN SINGAPORE SOURABAYA TAIPING
TIENTSIN TONGKAN
(Juket) TSINGTAO
YOKOHAMA ZAMUGANGA
Foreign Exchange and General Banking buster transacted.
Current Aceminta opened and Fixed De powita received for one year of shorter pastode at rate which will be quoted on application The Bank's Head Office in London under takes Executor Trustee business and clalma - recovery of British Insome Tax overpaid, on leems which may be ascertained at any of {ls Agencies & Brunches.
THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE
Over 90 per cent, of the popula tion is under 40 years of age. Barely one per cent. of the profes- sional class. The rest are working-capital class with an elementary school education.
More than a quarter of the whole population visits the library on an average once a week,
New braries are going up, and the committee and Mr. O'Leary are showing their usual enlightenment. -The latest is being built in a gar- den; where the people can sit and read in quiet and comfort.
Study circles use the library rooms for meetings. A children's corner is provided, where the tod- diers listen to stories and are en- couraged to tell them. A new generation of authors is being nurtured here.
Through the link with the Na- lonal Central Library and the County Libraries Scheme almost aly book on Bay subject can be obtained,
In this country there are 36,775,000 books in the public libraries. Nenrly, 208,000,000 are issued to 7,000.00 borrowers every year, and th annual expenditure is £2,440,00. That represents 1s. Id. per head. In Manchester ("what Manchester says to-day, ele.") it is Zs. 104. Those figures may seem impressive, but they only serve to curtain the shortcomings of hun- dreds of locul authorities,
I know ocal councillor (and you all know his type) who boasts that he has no read a book since he left school aid who opposes the whole idea of pablle libraries be- cause books give people ideas above themselves."
Which 18-xactly why we should
insist upon them,
THE
..
BANK, LIMITED, (fully-paid-up)
V.100,000.000 Reserve Fund ......... ..... Y.180,900,000 BEAD OFFICE-TOKOHAMA, Branches and Agencles at
Alexandria
Bangkok
Batavia
Berlin
tombes
Calcutta
Canion
Joinking
Кикасы
Kobe
Dairen (Dains) Nagmaakl
Pentin
(Mukders)
Barbar
HACKOW
Honolulu
Harbin
Hongkong
Rio de
JADESTO
·
Douglas Steamship Co., Ltd.
S.S. "HAITAN”
HONGKONG, MANILA, HONGKONG
Leaving HONGKONG 4 p.m. Saturday, 9th Jan.
from The Douglas Wharf
Loaving MANILA 3 p.m. TUESDAY, 12th Jan. For Freight and Passage Apply to
DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co.
P. & Q. Building
Telephone No. 28037
SHANGHAI
Now in 7 hours only!
Enjoy TIME-SAVING & COMFORT
by using AIRMAIL
AND
TRAVELLING on
1. C.N.A.C. LINERS
Departures: Evory Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, 7.30 am.
Kai Tak Airport.
2. P.A.A, CLIPPERS
Fly from Manila overy Friday.
For details, please apply,
CHINA NATIONAL AVIATION CORPORATION
Hongkong Office
3 Peninsula Hotel Arcado, Kowloon,
Tel. 50605
Tel, addr, "CHINACO"
Ban Francisco
Bentle Semarang
hanghai Bingapore Rourabays
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS
Loston
Los Angeles
Manila
Aloofl
Nagor
Now York:
Eydaey Tiestain
Üsaka
Tsingtao
Our
Tokyo
Yingkow
Parla
Topiar
Rangoon
Intervac lawed on Current Accounts.
Deposits received for axed paricds at sta
to be obtained on application.
T. KANO. Konkang, 18th November, 1938,
Manager.
CORRESPONDENCE University Committee. (1937): Suggestions
To the Editor,
Invited
Hongkong Telegraph.
Sir, The public is invited to sub- mit in writing to the undersigned any suggestions
or propusuls bearing upon the following terms of refer- ence:
To investigate the present, and probable future, financial position of the Hongkong University and to ad- vise whether any changes are desir- able in its stafing, personnel, salary. scales or organization;
(1) To enquire and advise whe- ther any such, or other, changes are desirable in the Interest of its utility or prestige:
(lft) To tender any other advice or suggestions for the future of the University.
J. H. B. LEE,
Secretary,
Colonial Secretary's Office.
SWEDISH EAST ASIATIC
SERVICE OF FAST MOTOR VESSELS
CQ LTB
(with limied, but exceptionally good, passenger accommodation). Homewards o:
Port Stan, Port Said, Marseilles, Algiers, Oran, Antwerp, Rotterdam (Amsterdam), Hamburg, Oslo, Gothenburg and other Scandinavian Porta.
via
Manila and Straits Settlements
M.S. "PEPING" M.S. "NGARA”.
Outwards for
M.S. NAARA"
Passenger, Roos:
Shanghai Yokohama, Kobe and Osaka.
M.V. "DLHI
Hong Kong to Mediterranean HongKong
Count the TELEGRAPHS" everywhere A Hoang to Antwerp
GILMAN CO., LTD.
Honkong
6th. Fob;
29
ACROSS
1 Direction to irritate the directors familiar to the electrician
(hyphen, and 5).
7 Fancy this being a source of
disease.
B Seems to suggest the person to deal, and what to do, with a re- fractory colt.
10. Sometimes goce with a swing. 11 Give Information it's first, class.. 12 Some day. 15 "Who stands I freedom fall? Who dies if live?" (Kipling). 10 Might be in there or therein or
might be this.
17 The housemaid knows all about the row about the bust bust, 20 An "As You Like It" character
fills most of this foreign town. 22 This mist is always getting the
wind up.
23 After a round It's a fair sight 24 After ten they are in residence..
27 For refractory locks (hyphen,
and 3).
4
20 Dieting (anag.).
20 Is this related to housemaid's knee? Oh, nel It's strategy, you see.
DOWN
1 Don't imagine there's only one
key, to shanty (two words,
.6th March
.15th Jan. .20th Feb.
$17
G. E. HUYGEN Canton.
6 Welsh town.
3 and
2. A girl I have in my eye.
3 Exonerated
4 The pitch stung you fellows?
5.First person."
2/26
7A ame-saving toss-up (twa
words, 6 and 5).
Sold again obviously.
13 Quadrupeds.
14 Go out to sea like a famous
ploughman.
18 Thus a monarch very wet. 19 Real bun (anag). 20 Decisive.
21 It there really were such a 'train it would be bad for the old buffers that don't travel in it,
25 This pipe is not for the mouths
of smokers.
26 Not a long island, surelyt
Yesterday's Solution
18 - FRER A COPPER COURSINGO IME AR PGN INVALID RANGE Ở VN
A ARRACEHORSE BAOCABA TRAJNI ENE SHERRY GTIP TEA Y CARTONTULISE
"LNOINTMENT OVERBOARD I Ba FAAO I NORGE S-NUBBED O GA O |B|N| | 8 QULPTOR YYEY
18 OR IPT