CHRISTMAS DAY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20420, 15 December 1931, Page 11

CHRISTMAS DAY.

PICTURE THEATRES TO OPEN. EVENING SCREENINGS ONLY. CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION. Departing from the attitude it has adopted for so many years in regard to picture entertainments on . Christmas Day, the City Council last night decided on the recommendation of a special sub-tommittee which had investigated the question,; to grant permission for picture theatres to be open to the public on the evening of December 25th. A "report from the By-laws and Finance Committee recommending that no screening of pictures bo allowed on December 25th was held over from tho previous meeting, when it waß decided "That the matter be referred to a subcommittee of the Council consisting of tho Mayor, Crs. Evans, J. McCombs, and A. A. McLachlan, to confer with the picture proprietors to ascertain whether they would be prepared to show pictures of a religious nature suitable for Christmas Day, and whether they would give a reasonable percentage of the takings to the Mayor's Belief of Distress Fund; the committee to report back at' the next meeting of the Council." The committee reported to last nighfs meeting of the Council that it had met representatives of the picture proprietors, who had stated: That it was impossible for them to undertake to show a programme of religious pictures, but that they would guarantee that all pictures shown would bo of a clean and wholesome nature. That in their opinion the question of asking for a definite percentage of the takings should not' ibo raised, but that they were prepared to make a voluntary contribution as a Christmas donation to the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund. In reporting the recommendation of the committee, Cr. Archer said that tho pictures would be the same as would be shown during Christmas week. The committee decided without prejudice that if the Council decided to allow pictures to be shown on Christmas Day only evening pictures be shown. He now moved that in view of all the circumstances the picture proprietors be not allowed to open their theatres on Christ' mas day. For the life, of him he-could not see why one section of the community should be given such a privi-. lege. He moved that the original recommendation of the By-laws and Finance Committee .that permission be not granted for picture theatres tc» open on Christmas Day be adopted. The motion was seconded by Cr. M. E. Lyons. Amendment Moved. i Or. A. A. McLachlan moved as aaj; amendment that - permission/ be gWHSp for pictures to be shown ■"on Day, but only in the evening. Thg amendment was seconded by Crq T' J3fl"k©r« ' Or. F. T. Evans said that in bothAuckland and Wellington permission had been given for piotures to be showp on Christmas Day. The Mayor said that the manager bad seen him and told him that they had not been able Qwinfij; to the shortness of time to get religious , pictures and as regards a contribution to tne Mayor's Relief of Distress Fuid, they were prepared to majce soroo contnbution. They had given him an assurance that any employee desirmg his or her freedom on Christmas Day would get it, 'and would not. be victimised, or discriminated against. Question of Potfble Time. j Cr. G. T. Thurston said that the em- I ployees were not entitled to double | time on Christmas Day; they, were ow. | weekly wages. They had only ! holidays—Christmas " Day, and Good j Friday. " . V, „ ~ . i I Several councillors: AJortmght. . Cr. Thurston said he was opposing the granting of the permit hc causa opening of the theatres was a purely commercial proposition. i Cr. J. McCombs paid that there was a definite undertaking by the P theatre managers .that double time would be paid, and that could bo sisted on as one of the conditions upon , which the permit was granted, Tho secretary of the union. represented some of the employees (Mr A. Tongufc) had assured him that the men, were in favour of the theatres bejng open. Cheap Entertainment. Cr. A. D. Armstrong said that he supported the granting of the in-the interests of those who wished to enjoy themselves at the pictures. As to other forms of entertainment, he said that they were ; more expensive. Cr, E. H. Andrews said that tne assurance had been given that double time ( would, bo paid the employees.. Protecting the Workers frocn Themselves. Cr. M. E. Lyons said th.at he was amazed that Labour men on the Council had shown no desire to protects the worker. Not always had it been the object of unionism to restrain the rapacious employer", sometimes it had, been to restrain the rapacious employee. There was, he hoped-, something in. British Christmas that-was worth preserving afld striving to make it the refl letter day in the calendar that it had always been. The- employees weresassured of their weekly wage. Cr. T. H. Butterfiold said that ho had always been a staunch unionist and h© intended to vote against permission be s? ®j! en $; Barnett said that no union had succeeded in proving victnmsatjon Archer sai( j agreed that those interested in labour 'had to guard the workers from some other workers. The difficulty was to get all the workers m line. , , Cr. J. W. Beanland: As soon as they get a few , pounds .tliey become ConCr. Archer said that his vote m 1926 had been quoted-, and one of the. managers bad left the committee-room saying, "Remember that casting vote." xne Mayor quoted tho division list and raised a laugh by showing that Cr. Butterfield on that occasion had voted in the opposite direction to his remarks that evening, and the same in respect of Cr. J. McCombs. Cr. Archer said that the managers admitted that there would be no demand for pictures unless it rained on, Christmas Da®. There was no sentiment about the managers; their desire to open tho theatres on Christmas Day vas purely a piece of commercialism. As to the amendment, he asked if it was worth while to, the employees'to get double pay for three hours ami have.theif vhoio day spoiled. Councillors shouM not, in connexion with great public (jucstions, allow themselves

to be interviewed by interested person*." What was wanted was" councillors' free <md« independent judgment. On the amendment being pat, » division was' called for, and it was agreed to by 9 votes to 7. Ayes (9): The Mayor, Cr. J-- McCombs. A. HJ. Armstrong, P. T. Evans, W. Williamson, A. A. McLaefclan, Annie 1,, JVaer, G. T« and EH. Andrews. Noes (7): Grs. J. K. Archer, T. H. Eutterfield, E. Parlane, .T. S.Barnett, Gv T. ThuratoUj M. E. Lyons, and J. W. Beanland. ' • Until very recent years the chief source of revenue of the ißritisli North' Bprneo Company, which has the administration of this dependency in its hands, was the sate of opium and gambling rights, Mr PpUgfas Wilson,who recently returned from North Borneo, told a Paxes reporter in the course of an interview last evening. Gambling has now been abolished, and according to' directions of the League of Nations, opium is ■ being issued to the large number of Chinese inhabitants in gradually decreasing quantities.