SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 4

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

THE RESERVING OP SEATS. A deputation from the Wellington Ministers' Association waited on the Wellington City Council last night regarding the reserving, of seats in tho Town Hall for Sunday concerts. The Rev. AV. S. Potter said that if the deputation had been rightly informed it was becoming the custom to reserve seats for Sunday concerts. The spirit, if not tho terms of the by-law was being vfolatod, ho added. After the Rev. J. J. North had spoken (it eomo length, Councillor Fletcher asked lnm if itwas not a fact that the principal of prepaid or reserved seats obtained in the churches in the city. '•, Rev. Mr. North: I don't suppose that Councillor Fletcher wants an answer. If he does, I can give hira ojio. Councillor Shirtcliffo: Yes, give us your answer. R.ev. Mr. North: If Councillor Fletcher is putting religious works on' a par with public amusements it is" something new. All church seats are free in Wellington. Councillor Fletcher: Does he think that the music rendered in the Town Hall on Sunday nights is not of an elevating character ? .Rev. Mr. North: I am sure that is so, and I don't challenge it. The Mayor replied that as soon as thcr had discovered tho "infringement of the by-law" tho parties concerned had been written to, and informed that the by-law could not bo observed. The by-law 'could not be interpreted in the way' those who favoured reserving the seats suggested. Subsequently tho council decided to refer the matter to the By-laws Committee. Councillor Fitzgerald said that for church people whogot to the Town Hall late; after the evening service, it was 'only a fair thing to have a eoat reserved, and to give those who organised the concerts a subscription. Ho wanted to know the city solicitor's opinion as to whether or not the by-law had been violated.

The Mayor did not put the question to tho solicitor.