Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 27 March 1884, Page 2

The petitions against tho anti-street preaching by-law will eomo before the City Council to-night, T hey contain upwards of 1,100 signatures, and are intlunntiaj enough to command attention. Thore is very little to add to what wo hnvo said already op this subject. The by-law has been introduced without any public feeling in Its favour; it parsed without attracting tho special notice of Cpuncillorti, and it in opposed to the general ecnra of tho community. As to the utility of street preaching, or tho proprioty of some of tho demonstrations which come under that (ionominjjtjon, it is needless to express any opinion. Thoso who advocate these agencies are ps muph /jjifcjtled to believe that their influence is beneficial as the opponents have to aeoll' and snoor. The intention at least is good, and so long as the public suffer no inconvenience, and can pass on their way unmolested, it would bo an act of pure intolerance for tho Council to assume tho function of censor. Jt is, of course, right that tho municipal authorities should retain in their hands tho power to provent obstructions to traffic, and so far ns a law for that purpose is required thoy will bo supported. \\'o have oyory reason to believe, howovor, that a majority of Councillors liayo no wish to interfere with tho privileges whicty thp churches havo hitherto enjoyed of making a public declaration of thoir faith in the fltreots of tho city, and the way to the total repeal or modification of tho by-law is easy. By clauso 339 of the Municipal Act, under which tho by-law was made, it can also be repealed, and we have every reliance upon the good sens.c of tho Gouncil prevailing in this matter, and determining the quostion in accordance with the wishes pf tho ratepayers.