A COUNCIL BREEZE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1932, Page 3

A COUNCIL BREEZE

COUNCILLOR’S VIEWS. MEETINGS ON CAROLINE BAY. •t TIMAHU, November 28. When .a motion ; to grant permission to the Ministers’ Association to hold religious ...meetings on Caroline Bay came before the T.niaru Borough Council to-night, the Deputy-Mayor (Councillor Kennedy) stated that, whilst not objecting ; to the holding of religious services he objected to the distinction made in the treatment of other 1 bodies. He reminded the Mayor (Mr T.---W. Satterthwaite) that on a jiti'ev.sjofj occasion when .an application ceived from a political body to 'hold a political meeting on the bay it had been refused i the Mayor stating that lie was against any meetings on the bay. “Now you turn a complete somersault,” said Councillor Kennedy. “This is class legislation, and ; class legislation is the downfall of any government.”, \

| Councillor Kennedy moved, “That th e caretaker be notified to have all available seats in readiness avd that in the event of wet weather the bay hn.1,1 be given free of cost 'and that all societies], associations and individuals having a message for the people be given, the same consideration.” MAYOR’S ATTITUDE. The Mayor: I have been and always will be arrai)\st political meetings on Caroline Bny on Sunday. This request is for a religious' service, an entirely different thing. If a politician wishes to make application l for the bay the application will be treated on its merits.' . • The Mayor said lie resented the charge, of “somersaulting.” The council had been consistent, for applications for political addresses had been granted provided the addresses were given at Alexander Square. Councillor Benstead: I can’t vote' holus bolus for a thing Hk e that. Even ■Councillor Kennedy bars Bolsheviks, but who is to lie the judge of who’s : 'a. Bolshevik? He moved an amendment that all applications be decided on their merits. ' Councillor Kennedy : It’s class leg’slation with • von. Councillor Benstead’s amendment -is. all right. "Tt gives yor the opmrtunitv to throw out what you don’t like. Wb, don’t have the chance of a • say at all. Y T ou only legislate for one eliss, the bon ton class. Anything they want they get, but when |it comes to : the Labour Party they I don’t get it.

SAME PRIVILEGES TO ALL. Councillor IJenstead : I don’t -want to te charged .with that sort of tiling. So in o who com© to religious services are thfe humbleat in. the world. ’’My l amendment gives the same privileges to lall. .Be thought that” Councillor Kennedy whs very much at fault in moving an amendment Which fostered social • discontent. Councillor Kennedy: A Christadelphian wanted to. preach on the bey and was turned down. I venture to say that if a Enitarinn minister wanted to ex-bound his view's he would he turned'down. ' I know just exactly where I stand with you. If it’s anything with someone big behind it its all right,’ but if it’s the working c'mp he’s turned down flat. (Cries of dissent.) ' • • Councillor Hunt stated that he would vote for the amendment, but he was quite sure that if an application from a politician were received it would be refused. He knew the mind of the council in that respect. He recalled a few years ago when bathing was not allowed on the hay. Now bathing went on all day long, and mixed bathing, too. Even th® swings were tied up. “We have got out. of those narrow channels and broken those religious chains which bound us hand and foot. There is as 1 much, add "perhaps more, mentality required in dissecting a political address as a religious ore. I am not an irreligious man, I believe in the Diety and His Son .Jesus Christ, but I do not s^.e' that - distinctions should he made.” The discussion., which was free from heat, was closed by the Mayor putting the resolution, which was li°st, Councillors Kenedy, and Richards voting for it. The amendment was then carried.