SUNDAY GATHERINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 15 November 1939, Page 4

SUNDAY GATHERINGS

EVASION OF PROVISIONS PREVENTING RECURRENCE REMIT TO CONFERENCE With a view to preventing Sunday gatherings of any kind, whether of a private or public nature, in places of entertainment, the Gisborne Borough Council last night decided to send a remit to the Municipal Association conference on the subject. The town clerk, Mr. W. M.. Jenkins, recalled a recent gathering, to which admission was by invitation, and regarding which a police prosecution l'aiicd. The present reading of the provision dealing with Sunday gatherings in licensed buildings read that no entertainment which is open to the public shall be held on Sundays, Christmas Day or Good Friday without the permission of the council and on such conditions that the council may impose. Mr. Jenkins suggested a remit that excluded the words “open to the public,” and by that means all such gatherings could not be held, whether private or otherwise, without the permission of the council.

The Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., said that a* present the council could not prevent anyone holding an entertainment of a private nature in a licensed building. In reply to Cr. A. L. Singer, Mr. Coleman said that .the proposed alteration would affect private previews of pictures, but in the case of any such application coming at short notice the Mayor could use his discretion, although he stood a chance of “getting the cane” from the council afterwards. The Mayor said that the council did not wish to discuss any specific case, but wished lo deal with all types of entertainment. Il was agreed lo send (he remit.