BAND & THE SABBATH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 6

BAND & THE SABBATH.

CHARGE SANCTIONED. CITY COUNCIL THRASH IT OUT, ONE VOTE DECIDES. for two hours and a half yesterday afternoon the Wellington City Council heatedly discussed the question as to whether tho Royal Artillery Band should bo allowed to make a charge for admission for the concert which they intend giving in,, the Athletic Park tomorrow afternoon. It will be remembered that, at an ordinary meeting, on January 26, the council passed a resolution allowing the charge to be made. Yesterday's special meeting was to consider a motion, proposed by the Mayor, that that resolution should be' 1 rescinded. After lengthy discussion tho council, by eight votes to seven, upheld its previous resolution and a charge- for tho concert is therefore to be made. Those present were: The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Councillors R, A. Wright, A. H. Hindmarsh, J. Godbsr, E. Tregear, M. F. Imckie, T. C. A. Histop, G. Frost, L. M'Kenzie, W. J. Thompson, H. Buddie, J. Fuller, Vs. H. P. Barber, R. Fletcher, and tf. E, Fitzgerald. In moving the rescinding motion tho Mayor said ho did so with some concern, because he did not want it to appear that he was in opposition to the wishes of tho council. Ho would, however, not feel that he had done his duty'if he did not take tho first opportunity to rescind what was, to his mind, not in the best interests of the city, He hud received many resolutions from different bodies protesting against the proposal to charge. Spirit of Commercialism. By permitting a eharge tor the concert they would introduce a spirit of commercialism into Sunday functions, proceeded the Mayor, It would also tend to cause Sunday theatrical entertainments, and open up the way for many applications, which lie did not think they could refuse once they had established such a precedent as this. He would certainly think it a blot, if, during his career as Mayor, the old traditions were disturbed. There was always the danger that, in the future, the relaxation of present conditions would bo abused. • Tliero was also the question as to how it would affect labour on Sundays. They had their trams and railways on Sundaj's, but the necessity for such conveyances was greater than "tho need for Sunday concerts! To give effect to the council's previous resolution would simply he opening the way for encroachment on the labouring man's day of rest.

Councillor Tregear seconded the motson. He spoke from the fear that the workers would • lose their one day of rest if the Continental Sunday was introduced here. If it came to a question of principle it was doubtful • if •even tho trams should be run on Sunday, He deprecated the extension of the commercial spirit to Sunday,- ijnd asked why poor people should not have an opportunity of hearing the band on Sunday.

Councillor Godber stated that he had given A silent vote on a previous occasion, but he felt that it was his duty to voice his views on the present mot!cn' t lea t ' ley eaw ° to consider tnat the visit of the band was really a commercial undertaking, the policy of tho council in the past should not bo altered. H« opposed the charge on broad principles. To ajlow it was merely to insert the thin edge ; of, the wedge. It- was encroaching on the. right of every man. to have drto day of rest. Councillor M'Keniiie asked whether the proposal to- charge .was an offence nndor the Police Offences Act. Tho Mayor ruled that it would be so under tho English law, but specific laws had been passed hi New Zealand ovor-ruling that.

Councillor Frost outlined the reasons which had actuated him in voting for the previous motion. He took up tht. position then that no precedent should be established, but that each case should he dealt with on its merits. Ho did 'not think that tho musiclovriig people of Wellington would object to tho charges of ts. and Gd. Ho did not seo that there was much difference between a charge and a collection. Per-sonally,-he respected the aetbn of the churches in coming to tho Council and giving expression- to their views, but ho- did not see that he should chango His previous opinion on that account.

Mayor's Action Questioned. Councillor Fitzgerald opposed the Mayor's rescinding vote, and, took exception to the action of the Mayor in telegraphing to the bandmaster asking that lio should withhold the Sunday charge. Regarding tho twaddlo of "Continental Sundays," he thought it the height of absurdity to say that-a charge to hear really good music was going to institute tho Continental Sunday here. Regarding the protests of the cburchesyho would liko to point out that all the'churches were not objectors, and, as public men, they should considertho views of all classes of tho community. There was no fear of the good morals of tho town being corrupted by allowing the charge, and ho would vote as he did on the last occasion. The council should show that they were prepared' to trust the people of Wellington when tho need arose.

Councillor .Luekio thought that not one solid objection liad been brought against the council's previous resolution. Because -they permitted charge to be made to hear such really good' music they should not be con.fronted with the eternal bogy of the "Continental Sunday." There was not the slightest foundation for the remarks that tho charge was laying down a precedent. They would not get the concert if the charge was not allowed. The band cost £150 a day while, in New Zealand, and it was only right that they should be allowed to .charge for such uplifting music. Thero was not the slightest word raised against the proposition in Auckland, but was that reason for saying that no protest would llave bewi raised if all tho side' shows nt the Exhibition were allowed to -remain open on Sunday?. They should realise the. distinction, and ■encourage the good, while fefasing tho had. The Continental Sunday, as. understood in Europe, was allowing shops and theatres to remain open, race meetings to take place, etc. He saw no objection ft* all. to tho present proposal. Councillor Wright took exception to Councillor Luckie insinuating.that ho was out for !i. "cheap concert." Councillor LucWo replied he did not intend to insinuate such a thing. He would withdraw the. remark if Councillor Wright took it as an insinuation agxsinst him. The -Continental Sunday. Councillor Wright said ho Was not in favour of tho proposal to charge. All tho talk of "prohibiting good music" was only throwing dnst. The- argument was that by ado.pt.ing the proposal to charge the.v were opening tho way to the institution of the Continental Sunday. Everything started in a small way, and the people opposing the proposal did so because they belioved it would ultimately lend to something approaching a Continental Sunday. It was a broad question, beyond tho argument of Sabbath desecration. •-*

Councillor Hislop said that ho.trusted tho people, and was not swing to insult them, by saying that, if a Ven-. ■BQnablo fee was fiicdj they would oh-

icct to paying. There could only be three practical objections; That the concert was evil; that it would.inflict injury on some section of the. community; or that, it would outrage, the conscience of the great majority of the, people, These could not bo levelled against tho proposal. Councillor Hislon also referred to thts "delightful, immense, and amusing bogy of the Continental Sunday." Councillor Barber, who favoured the proposal, said flint on this occasion there was a wide distinction, He had voted for tho charge on tlio ground that the application was of an exceptional character. At tho same time he was against using Sunday for purposes of making a profit. Did all churches protest? Councillor Fuller said ho was totally against entertainments on Sunday, but ho did not call the band an entertainment; it was educational. With reference to tho protest to the council from the Churches, ho did not think that it came from all tho Churches. If they said tho protest earn© from "The Killjoy ; Trust" they would bo nearer the mark. Tha majority of citizens would appreciate the council's action in allowing a regulated collection, , Councillor M'Kenzie said all the arguments put forward against the propsal : were, inconsistent. The position of the : tour was that the guarantors of the Auckland Exhibition wai-.ted to make good tho money. The proceeds would ge to tho people of Auckland, vet the council denied such privileges "to the people in AVellington, .partwularlv in reforesee to, the Professional Orchestra. Chanty began at home, and he would vote in favour of tho motion to rescind the charge. N Whora would It Air stop? Councillor Buddie supported' the Mayor, and emphasised the difficulty of knowing where thov were to stop once they permitted Sunday charges. In the long run it would he a bad thing for the community if they allowed this charge, Councillor Hindmarsh. said 'he did not have strong feelings one way or the other on the matter, but what was the Use of the public talking about not desecrating the Sabbath when they took fine care not to allow their material pleasures to bo interfered with? They demanded that the milkman, should go round on Sunday and that tho trams should tun. On tho question of labour, Tie could not see it would bo opposed to labour's interests. More labour would bo employed in taking up a collection than in making a charge. In order to upheld the. dignity of the council he would vote against the rescinding motion. The public would go to the entertainment without contributing, as was the case whan the orchestral concerts were given. It was a fact tnat welldressel gentlemen wont to 6uch concerts with four or five ladies., and put threepence ia the plate. "Charge for Anything.Uplifting." Councillor Fletcher said riot only was Hie in favour of. allowing the band to charge, hut he was in favour of allowing tho Wellington Professional Orchestra to make a. charge, for their Sunday concerts. It was nonsense to say that the public would give as much if a.'collection was taken up. There was a lot of talk about commercialism oil Sundays, but if they were consistent, why didn't they make a collection on their .trams instead of making a charge ?If tho motion to make a charge was upheld. Ire 'hoped that an D.pplfcation would again ho mado from the orchestra to allow a reasonable charge Ho; was in favour of charging for anything that was of an uplifting nature, Christ* church and owier towns in New Zealand adopted the principle of charging foir' such entertainments, Councillor Fletcher also took exception to the Mayor's action in telegraphing to Auckland against n ; motion, which had been carried by the council. ■.." '.", ■" ■'.'.':.

In reply, the Mayer simply said that Councillors Buddlo-artd HindHrarsh did not i,avo an opportunity on the last Occasion of exercising their right to vpteon such an important question. It was only right that they should liave- had that opportunity. ' It was a compliment to his action -that all should be present at the present meeting, the Division. •The motion, was_then put and declared lost on a division. • The voting ivas— , For the Mayor's rescinding motion (7) —■■Councillors Buddie, Godber, M'Eenzi©, Thompson, Tregear, Wright, and the Mayor. v . Against tlio Mayor's rescinding roo-t-ion ' (S)—Barber, Fitzgerald.'. Fletcher. Fuller, Hindmarsh, Frost, Hislop, and Luckie.