INDIGNATION MEETINGS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2551, 5 September 1893, Page 3

INDIGNATION MEETINGS.

GEEALDINE,

A public meeting, presided over by Captain Dixon, waß held in the Salvation Army Barracks, Geraldine, on Friday evening to protest against the sentence passed on Captain Kerr, at Milton, recently. Captain Dixon explained why the meeting had been called, and remarked that the Army were always willing to study the interests of people amongst whom they laboured, as instance the fact that the Army band did not play at Geraldine on Sunday mornings on account of the many people driving through the town to the churches. Mr F. B. Flatman moved " That this meeting protests against the severe Bentence of £3 fine or one month's hard labour passed on Captain Kerr, for playing a cornet in the street, and calls upon the local member of the House of Representatives to convey the protest to the Minister of Justice." Mr Flatman spoke very warmly on the resolution, and had great pleasure in moving same. The Bev. W. C. Woodward seconded the resolution, and spoke strongly in favour of open-air meetings. From personal experience at Auckland he knew that open-air meetings were a meaus of great good, and in this way he believed that the Salvation Army throughout the world was doing much good He also pointed out that the Ashbuiton Magistrate had cautioned Captain McClymont against playing in the streets. Mr W. E. Barker, Peel Forest, also spoke on the resolution, and his opinion was that the liquor ring was at the bottom of Captain Kerr's prosecution, as it was in a disgraceful scene he had witnessed on Saturday night last at Christchurch. He thought that the open-air was God's Cathedral, aud British subjects had a perfect right to the open-air. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, and the meeting closed. TEMUKA. On Sunday last an indignation meeting was held at the Army Barracks Temuka, to discuss the action recently taken at Milton against a member of the Salvation Army. There was a very good attendance, and the ordinary Bervice was held. After a brief statement of the particulars had been given, the following resolution was carried unanimously : u That this meeting of citizens of Temuka learns with regret, and expresses its great indignation at the extreme sentence of £3, or one month's imprisonment with hard labour, passed upon Captain James Kerr, of the Salvation Army, by Mr Hawkins, 8.M., August 19th, for playing a cornet in the streets of MUton without the consent of the Council, and desires the Minister of Justice to cancel such an unjust and severe conviction; this meeting is of the opinion that the action of playing a cornet iB peifectly legal, and in harmony with the rights of citizenship, and that the Salvation Army should be allowed to play its music without hiudrance, the same as Volunteer Bands and the various lodges who procession and play music in the streets. It also calls upon the looal member of the House of Representatives to convey this resolution to the Minister of Justice."