PICTURE SHOWS ON SUNDAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1923, Page 1

PICTURE SHOWS ON SUNDAY.

The question of Sunday pictures was raised in the Legislative Council, when I lie Hon W. 11. Mclntyre moved to add to tile Police OHcnce.s Act Amendment Bill a new clause amending Section 17 of the principal Act, by providing that nothing in the section should apply to picture shows exhibited by license of the .Minister of Justice in localities wherein, in the opinion of the .Minister, it is desirable in the public interest that such entertainment should he permitted on Sundays.

Hon Mclntyre said his reason for so moving wns that for sonic time the West Coast towns had the privilege of attending Sunday evening picture entertainments. No charge was made, but there was a silver coin collection, and because of this, and the fact that Sunday was a non-working day. miners wiih big families were able to attend. .M.-uiv of the people went from church to the pictures, and were none the worse for I hat. This went well for some time, and then an unco’ guid got busy, and eventually the police were forced lo prosecute. Some of these mining towns were sordid enough already, and the person who would take li e little pleasure which was mentioned from those who wore doomed to live in such places was devoid of the mill: of human kindness and a “wowser” of the worst typo. One remembered how Sunday Iranis had once been opposed and how golf on Sunday had been condemned. There wore mining towns now where all the principal soccer matches were played on Sundays. The world was becoming more broadminded respecting Sunday observance. and he thought the Catholic idea of Sunday —to attend religious service in the morning and make holiday after noon—was the popular idea today of what Sunday ought, to he. Tie would not suggest that there should lie Sunday pictures in the cities, for tho cities had other, means of entertainment. lie thought the question of permission to hold picture shows oil Sunday could well be 101 l to the .Minister of Justice. On a division the new clause was added. The following was the voting : Ayes *l7-; The lions Sir Francis Bell. Barr. Campbell, Clarke, Crimmond. Hawke. Ilislop, l.miisson, McGregor. Melntie, Battik i, Rikihana. Sinclair, Snodgrass, Stewart, Thomson. Triggs. Noe-, ..H) : The Hons Colu-n, Earnsliaw. Garland. Geddis, Cow, Sir William 1 lall-.loues, Mander, Monro.