CHRISTMAS DAY FILMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 848, 17 December 1929, Page 6

CHRISTMAS DAY FILMS

MT. EDEN COUNCIL REVERSES DECISION MAYOR’S CASTING VOTE Pictures can be screened in the Mount Eden theatres on the evening of Christmas Day. Sharply divided on this controversial issue, the Mount Eden Borough Council last evening, on the casting vote of the Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, reversed its previous decision banning Christmas Day picture shows, in spite of vigorous protests by representative religious organisations throughout the borough. The reversal was brought about on a motion by Cr. J. M. Melville, whose proposal granted permission to the two theatres to open on the evening of Christmas Day. The mover claimed the council’s previous decision against amusements on December 25 was not well founded. The employees engaged in the theatres acted voluntarily to make a “little extra cash” on these occasions, he asserted. In determining the issue, he argued that the council could not consider it from a religious but from a public standpoint. “We have two big ratepayers on one hand, and the public on the other,” he said, “and we must consider the matter from the cash standpoint.” “It is only commercialising one of the most sacred days of the year, and It is being done for £ s d. It is coming down to a low level,” protested Cr. S. Newcombe. He claimed that the several hundred churchgoers, who had protested, were as much entitled to consideration as ratepayers. There had been no inquiry or application from the public for the opening of the theatres on Christmas Day, he added. 1 Cr. A. M. Bryden considered it was evident that the public attended the theatres, otherwise the proprietors would not apply for permission to open. There had never been any complaints in former years, he said, the programmes always having been well selected and approved. In view of the fact that the majority of city people could have a happy Christmas at the seaside without restrictions, Cr. G. L. Taylor saw no reason why others not so fortunate should not have the privilege of attending the pictures on Christmas Night. “Times have changed and Christmas Day is now looked on differently from 15 years ago,” he added. Opposing the proposal, Cr. F. L. Rendell claimed that the theatre proprietors’ objective was to get another session in, and not to cater for a public demand. The majority of Mount Eden people was against any sort of amusement on Christmas Day, and he claimed that such efforts as these only represented the “thin end of the wedge” toward breaking down the significance of the day. He did not regard the theatres as guardians of public sentiment in regard to the class of programmes. A protest was also entered by Cr. W. H. Nagle, who pointed to the fact that racing clubs did not offend the public’s susceptibilities on Christmas Day. He also claimed that billiards saloons had been closed on that occasion, and maintained that theatre employees should have Good Friday and Christmas Day to themselves. The voting was six-all on a division, the Mayor, Crs. Woolley, Lange, Taylor, Melville and Bryden supporting the motion, and the Mayor gave his casting vote for Christmas evening pictures.