Culture on the rates
Sir: It seems that Goering's dictum 'When I hear anyone talk of culture I reach for my revolver' is still cherished in the hearts of some local authority members. Here in Whitehaven, after a public meeting and a further private meet- ing of interested parties, the town council's library committee took the great leap forward—they approved a proposal to levy an eighth of a penny rate to be used as a contribution to the North- Eastern Association of the Arts' proposed work in Cumberland. Yet, this last week the town council had second thoughts and hastily withdrew the proposal, largely one suspects because of the hostility and philistinism of the controlling group, the Labour members.
Ironically, the Government's views on the arts —underlined by the appointment of an able Minister for the Arts—do not appear to have had much impact upon some Labour councillors. Yet, in an area such as West Cumberland, strenuously trying to diversify its industrial base and attract
new firms, the lack of -cultural facilities can be an important factor in deciding whether a firm and its employees move to the area or not
For the sake of an eighth of a penny rate (in total for the town the princely sum of £490 per annum) who knows bow many jobs have been denied our people?
M. I. Freeman 31 Hillcrest Avenue, Whitehaven, Cumberland
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