SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 21752, 21 June 1934, Page 3

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS

■ i. , ...... MORE APPLICATIONS GRANTED DISCUSSION AT CITY COUNCIL Further applications for the screening of pictures on Christmas Day and for the holding of'concerts on Sunday nights came before the meeting of the City Council last night. The first applications dealt with were those asking for permission to screen a uieturc programme at the Grand and State Theatres on Christinas Day, 1934. Cr Silverstone .moved that the application be granted. Ci Campbell, who seconded the motion, said that in view of applications previously granted there seemed nothing to do but approve of the applications before them. They could not make fish of one and flesh of another. The motion was carried. Next there was an application from the honorary organiser of the Dunedin North branch of the Labour Party asking for permission to hold concerts in the State Theatre on Sunday evenings. •July S. 10. 22, and 29; the whole of the proceeds of the concerts to be devoted to charitable objects. Cr Campbell said be presumed there would be a silver coin collection. The Mayor: That is what they have undertaken. Cr Campbell; By the way the public attend the Sunday night entertainments they seem to be something they arc in need of. Permission was granted. M. Cotter, on behalf of the organisers of the carnival in aid of the Sacred Heart Church, North-east Valley, wrote asking for permission to hold a concert on Sunday evening, June 24, admission to be by silver coin and the proceeds to bo in aid of the building fluid. Cr Campbell moved that the request be granted. Cr Silvei-stone said lie had no objection to the granting of permission, but lie would point out that on the same evening a concert was being held to raise funds for a memorial to the late Mr H. E. Holland. He moved as an amendment that the applicants be asked to hold their concert on another Sunday. The Mayor said that the principle of the council was to grant two permits for one Sunday, and if the present application were granted it would make two for this particular Sunday. The amendment was defeated and the motion was carried, it being agreed that Cr Silverstone endeavour to persuade the applicants to hold their concert on another occasion. An application from Derry’s Military Band to hold a Sunday concert in the Empire Theatre on October 21 was granted. LETTERS OF PROTEST. At this stage the town clerk read a letter of protest from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union against the granting of permits for Sunday pictures and concerts. The Dunedin Council of Christian Congregations forwarded the following resolution This council views with gravest concern the recent decision of the City Council to permit the Sunday screening of pictures. While in fullest sympathy with every legitimate effort to assist deserving causes, it emphatically protests against the sanction thus given, believing as it does that its granting is an affront to the Christian conscience of the community and a flagrant violation of tho sanctity of the day traditionally set apart for Christian worship and service. It is also influenced by the consideration that the permission thus accorded involves needless Sunday labour, and thus infringes the rights of the worker to his weekly day of rest. The council trusts that the City Fathers will resolutely refuse any further applications for Sunday pictures in the future.” “ These protests conic at the wrong end of tho agenda,” jocularly remarked Cr Scott. Cr M’ludoe moved that the letters of protest be received. He would like to point, out that it had come to his notice that the girls employed as ushers would like their Sunday evenings free, even when the objects of the concerts were for charity. They were expected to attend. It was put to them in such a way—they could stay away if they liked, but should remember there were plenty of girls wanting jobs. The Mayor said that last year representations were made to him by the managers of the picture theatres that they did not want Sunday pictures. Nor did the staffs. It was moved that tire letters of protest be received. “What does that mean?” asked Cr Begg. The Mayor: We notice their protest. Cr Begg: We shall never hear of them again. He asked if the letter would be considered when other applications came up for Sunday pictures? The Mayor said he took it they would all have ’the protests in mind when further applications came before them. Or Shaddock suggested that the writers of the letters be informed that a majority of the council had decided that pictures could be shown and concerts held on Sundays, and that the council could do nothing further. The Mayor said they had decided certain things. The protests were against their doing anything like that in the future. •Cr Shaeklock: The thin end of the wedge is in. Cr Borrie said he thought they should notify the writers of the letters of what tho mayor had said about the management of the theatres not wanting Sunday pictures. They could also point out that the employees—if they had to go back—did not want to go back. Why force Sunday labour on people if they did not want it? Cr Silverstone said that, if the theatre managers objecled to Sunday entertainments, wily did they allow the theatres to be used on that day. They had their own remedy. As for safeguarding the interests of the workers, the trades’ unions were quite strong enough to do that. It was strange to find people who had never before given consideration to the interests of the workers now speaking as they did. Cr Campbell: That remark is uncalled for. Other councillors rose to their feet and asked that Cr Silverstone should withdraw. Cr Silverstone: 1 did not say anything unparliamentary. The Mayor: It would be a graceful thing to withdraw the remark. Cr Silverstone: If councillors feel hurt I shall withdraw. He went on to say it was not his intention to hurt anyone’s feelings. If a deputation of workers came to the council protesting against Sunday labour, that would he the time, to take action. They should remember they 7 employed men themselves on the trains on Sundays. Cr M’ludoe said that, in justice to the picture theatres, he would like to say that at a picture screening last Sunday- night the ushers were volunteers. The motion was'carried.