SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 8

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO AMUSE AND INSTRUCT. A LABOUR PARTY SCHEME. Consideration was given, by the City Council last night .to the question of Sunday evening entertainments, through the New Zealand -ta'-bour party applying for permission to hold a series of lectures, interspersed with vocal and orchestral numbers, on Sunday evenings. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican, moved before discussion that, in accordance with the policy of the Council the request he declined, but Mr. Bloodworth asked permission to reverse the motion, he 'being of opinion that there was a great and growing need for Sabbath evening entertainments of the right kind. Hundreds of people paraded the streets on these evenings, he averred, with nothing to do. A great many of them had no wish to go to church, and even if they did there were so many of them that there would be insufficient accommodation in the various places of worship. Other people had been permitted to hold sacred Sunday concerts, and the aims of the Labour party with its gatherings were to hold meetings almost precisely similar to these for which permission had already been granted. If certain missions were allowed, to hold meetings where pictures were presented and songs., were sung, surely it was not right to refuse the same permission to other bodies. He submitted that the Labour party in New Zealand had been subject to a great deal of misrepresentation, and it earnestly desired an opportunity to let folk see its real policies and its aims.

Mr. 'Bloodworth "was accorded a very attentive hearing, and lie spoke at con-, sideraHe length, explaining that the concerts were designed &> entertain and instruct, and instructive Uectures would •be sandwiched 'between entertaining numbers. He concluded with the suggestion that it was now time for the Council to revive the whole question of these Sunday entertainments, and to reconsider its policy concerning them.

3lr. Entrican offered to withdraw bis original motion on the understanding that Mr. Bloodworth would move that the question of these entertainments should he referred to the Finance and Legal Committee so that the whole subject could be reviewed, and to this Mr. Bloodworth readily consented, providing the Council would grant permission to the Labour party to hold two of these Sunday concerts in the meantime. Thus the matter was adjusted satisfactorily for the time being, and pending the report of the. committee in a fortnight's time.