SUNDAY PICTURES

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 February 1917, Page 4

SUNDAY PICTURES

Sir, —I am surprised that the only backing the Council can get in support of their drastic motion to close the pictures on Sunday is a feeble letter from "Churchman." However, I suppose it is all the support the motion is worthy of. Churchman makes an appeals for the Church and the Red Cross- in preference to Sunday pictures. Weil, sir, the picture proprietors can justly claim to do more good to the masses in Taihape than the churches. Although each church has a good minister at the head of affairs, still they cannot touch the people that patronise the pictures. These people do not go to church even now that the pictures are closed. Sunday pictures keep the young off the streets and from the parks on Sunday night, which must have a big moral effect. The fact of Churchman upholding the Council is more surprising when we look into the matter of church-going amongst our Councillors. What is their record of church attendance from His Worship the Mayor down, and -how about the church attendance of the four members who passed the motion? I think it would be a pretty safe bet that not 'one of the four attended church last Sunday night. In reference to Churchman's remarks re Red Cross work, I myself have been unable to spare, the time to reply to his letter sooner owing toworking in the recent competition, and the sum raised I guarantee came more from the worker than from Mr. Churchman and his friend is Mr. Churchman's opinion abouit the. Club. I notice he doesn't mention that. Nor do the Councillors talk of closing that of a Sunday. Yet I am sure more I wives and mothers would rejoice over the closing of the Club than over the closing of the pictures. Mr. Churchman mentions the workers will be able to get their own back when the election comes, but not so, Mr. Churchman. As the present Councillors have got things into such a rotten state that it it wculd require all the brains and energy of the new council elected !to g;et matters right again. Therefore it is impossible to get the best in the

town to allow themselves to be nominated. V/iren a good solid man was elected, the other councillors showed so little business ability that he was compelled to resign. Ido not quite agree with Church and Pictures re the

mover of the motion waiting his opportunity, as the opportunity is open for the same mover every council meeting. As every proposal put forward by the same mover, such as rolling the road to the town boundary towards the Freezing works, etc., was carried without any trouble, but never mind the footpaths. What has Mr. Churchman to say in snpporfidtf the £IOOO lying idle down the creek. I myself am not surprised at the mover putting through his motion, as his brains, in comparison to his brother councillors is like placing a good racehorse against a lot of Maori brumbies in a race; there can only be one issue. Now, sir, I would like our councillors to wake up and give us an argument or two, or even a fight at next meeting to show us that one man is not running the whole show. I may have wandered a bi- from the subject Mr. Editor, but I am trying to bring out some of our Council supporters, if we hav< any better than Churchman. Our Coun cil is so w- A off financially that it car afford to 1 -.« the revenue for the elec trlcity s: -ed to the pictures oi Sunday ni-jht. I am, etc., WORKER.'