SUNDAY PICTURE REFERENDUM.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 March 1917, Page 4

SUNDAY PICTURE REFERENDUM.

To the Editor. Sir, —As an Editorial in to-night’s Times deliberately misrepresents me on the question of Sunday Pictures, I would like to draw attention to what was written in a letter on February 17 last, (quoting from memory) "there is an Election pending, and if the Electors have no' confidence in us, they know what to do. In the meantime, I wish to nail my colours to the mast, and stand in with those councillors who for good or ill, for better or worse, decided as they did.” Surely thlis was straight enough. The other day, I was asreed to present a petition to the Council signed by 217 Electors, praying that a referendum be taken on the question as to whether pictures should, or should not, be shown on Sundays. I readily agreed to do so. It was a public duty. I never said a wmrd in favour of Sunday Pictures; I was L.-u-r c.s.ied to. mi.a r>oinr a;

•'".rtinilerly impressed on the Council. I was advised that the Petition was signed by those against, as well as those in favour of pictures. My remark re racing, was in reply to the Mayor's expression of opinion that pictures of all sorts, Sunday and week day, should be closed during the war, as he considered the picture business non-essential, and more wasteful. A few days ago, when speaking with the Times' Editor, I took exception to a remark in an article re Mayoral Election, and was told that the Editor had the greatest confidence in my integrity and ability, and that I had taken the wrong meaning. However, to write mo down as a champion desccrater of the Sabbath is the limit, and I ask leave to protest. Regular Church-goers will appreciate the irony. May I add that I have never, been to pictures in Taihape in my life, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Saturday night (not that I would be any the worse or better if I did), and, further, more irony, the Rev. Mr Stent has just asked me to attend an Anti-Sunday Picture Meeting to-mor-row. Afraid that lam in for trouble, and will have to depend on my natural good humour to pull me through. I am, etc., — A. J. JOBLIN.