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23
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
The Public Library Act (limited to a rate of ½d. in the £
per year) was adopted by the Parish in the month of December,
1886. The opinion of the Ratepayers was taken by means of
Voting Papers, in accordance with the Amendment Act, the
voting- being as follows:—
For the adoption of the Act 15,292
Against 12,48.
Majority 2811
The following gentlemen were, on the 3rd February, 1887,
elected by the Vestry as the first Commissioners to carry out the
powers of the Act
The Hon. and Rev. Canon
Pelham, Rector of Lambeth.
Mark H. Beaufoy, Esq., J.P.
W. S. Caine, Esq., M.P.
R. Gent-Davis, Esq., M.P.
George Howlett, Esq.
Edwin Lawrence, Esq.
Horace Brooks Marshall, Esq.,
J.P.
Evan Spicer, Esq.
William Stiff, Esq.
Messrs. Beaufoy, Howlett, and Marshall retired by ballot in
February, 1888, and were re-elected.
A large Meeting in support of the Libraries was held at the
Lambeth Palace Library on the 7th May, 1887, with His Grace
the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair. At such Meeting
large subscriptions were announced to help the movement, the
object being to purchase Sites and erect Libraries from donations
to be obtained from the public, so that the entire amount
to be realised from the rate might be devoted to the payment of
the yearly maintenance and working of the Libraries, without
deduction for rent or interest on or repayment of loans.