SUNDAY OBSERVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 234, 15 October 1901, Page 2

SUNDAY OBSERVANCES.

CONDUCT OF BILLIARD-ROOMS. THE BOROUGH COUNCIL DEPUTA.TIONISE D. A dbputatioh of 24 gentlemen waited upon the Borough Council on Monday night in reference to the subjadts above named. Amongst those present were Revs. Evans, Osborne, Nixon, Messrs. Dempsey, N. K. MacDiarmid, W. H. Skiijnor, E. Okey, T. White, A. J. Whitaker, J. Barron, A. Ambury, 0. MacDiarmt'd, S. W. Shaw, j W. and E. Ohatterton, J. Grayson, and others. Rev. Osborne explained that the deputation wished to bring under tbe notice of the Oouncil the question of the management of billiard r*oms in the town. These had been subject to very little control in the paa% but under Motion 404 of the Municipil Corporations Act of 1900 the Oounoil had power to impose conditioas a* to the hours of elodng. He thought the rooms should ba closed at 10 o'clock. They had also heard that gambling was carried on, but be trusted the Oounoil would take such steps as would deil effectually with securing proper control and conduct of tbe rooms. Mr. W. H. Skinner also spoke briefly in Bupport of what Rev. Osborne had said. The Mayor said the New Plymouth Council could take credit for making the initial move in thiß matter, having brought it forward at the Municipal Conference. The Bye-laws Committer bad carefully considered the question, and had recommended that the closing hours should be the same as for hotels. It had also recommended that boys under 16 years should not be allowed in the rooms. (Hear, hea r .) Mr N. K. MacDiarmid then introduced the subject of Sunday observance, referring to entertainments held on tho?e days, and to the resolutions passed at the meeting held last week in connection therewith. lb was .said that man could not"be made sober or moral by Act of Parliament, but they should see that Ahe laws provided for the due observance of the day of rest were carried out. He did not wish to refer specially to theatrical companies, | as there were good men and women among actors as well as other p9ople ; but the organisation of Sunday concerts was not to be trusted to them entirely. The Oouncil had power, under section 363 of the Municipal Corporations Aot, to deal with the matter. They should resist any attempt to introduce anything of the nature of the Continental Sunday into tbis colony. Rev. J. Nixon said they might be looked upon as narrow-minded and bigoted; but it was their duty to s°e that the day of rest was conserved. He did not wish to go back to a condition of things suoh as he remembered as a boy, when all papers were closed on Saturday night, and the streets were closed during Sunday, and so on. Bu'> even that was preferable to suoh a, condition of things as was now threat-1 ening. Nations whioh had rigidly I observed the sacred nature of the Lord's day and endeavoure 1 t< act as nearly as possible up tc Christian ideals had always made fo good. Now we bad our golf links ful on Sundays, football was played on that day, and people seemed to turn the day into one of pleasure-seeking. The London Q rnnty Oounoil had withdrawn the lioeni>e to the Orys'al Pilace for Sundays when it found the place was oouduoted simply as a pleasure resort. Ministers went doing all they oould to incu'cate prinoipUs of reverence for the day into our people, and he believed the Council would assist as far' as it could, The Mayor, in reply, Slid the Council's Bye-laws Committee had J.he matter under consideration, and had recommended that a commit' ee should be appointed to deal with licecses for Sunday entertainments. All such would be refused where personal gain w«8 anticipated (applause), and permits would only be granted for purely sacred concerts and religious meetings, The Oouncil would of course have to consider these recommendations, but he bad no doubt tbe result would be satisfactory to the deputation. Rev. Osborne moved a v ite of thanks to the Oouncil, which was seoaoded by Rev. Evans, and carried. The deputation then withdrew.