MO PERMITS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 67, 22 March 1929, Page 10

MO PERMITS

GOOD FEIDAY PICTUEES

FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION

The City Council last night affirmed its decision of last meeting that no permits should be granted for the opening of picture shows and other places of entertainment on Good Friday.

Letters of protest against the council's decision from the theatre interests, and of appreciation and support from churches, were road by tho Town Clerk.

In moving that the resolution declining permission to hold entertainments on Good Friday should bo rescinded, Councillor K. M'Keen said that the council was most inconsistent, for,one amuseinont was prohibited and others were to be allowed. Golf, tennis, cricket, and all other sports and pastimes should likewise be prohibited. To his mind theatregoers had just as much right to consideration as churchgoers, and he did not think that the great majority of churchgoers had any objection to others attending places of amusement. Wellington had a great many "roomers" who had a right to attend places of amusement if they wished, and particularly if the day was wet entertainment was desirable. Last year 12,000 people attended picture shows on Good Friday; those people were entitled to consideration. The council was on perfectly safe ground, in the past when it required theatre proprietors to submit their programmes for approval. ' ;

Councillor MorpetU seconded tlio motion. J.To did not denyt-Uo sanctity of the day. Steamers and trains ran, howover, as usual; indeed, special excursions were run. It was a matter for. individual freedom. For twenty years pictures had been run on -Good Fridays, and there had been no protests. The City Council's tennis courts and golf links were charged for. Let the council at least be consistent. He liad voted against the resolution on the previous occasion, but this time he had supported the present resolution, because, with thirteen councillors, the matter had been carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. Customarily, a casting vote was only used to retain the existing state of affairs.

The Mayor said that he had brought forward the motion in deference to the very strong feelings of those making tho request for the closing. Ho quoted the procedure in other.centres as showing that they took up the attitude taken by tbo council in its former resolution. Councillor Luckic urged that places of entertainment-should bo allowed to open. ' No objection had been raised during the past twenty years, and to close theatres was to draw a line between outdoor and indoor entertainments. There was no question that to a great many people Good Friday was a secular holiday. Councillor Hislop said that while Friday and such days only, they could Friday and such dayso nly, they could attend picture theatres any other evening. In view of the sacred nature of the day ho was against the motion.

Councillor Semple asked whether it was not a fact that a concert was to be held in the Town Hall on Good Friday night. "The Messiah" was to be presented, but not for private gain, replied the Mayor. Councillor Semplo said that ho did not see the' difference. He believed in the light of all people to -worship as they thought fit, but he did not believe in the right of people to say to others: "Thou shalt not." A littlo movo of tho spirit of tolerance should be shown. Councillor Huggins thought it unfair to deprive tho theatre employees of their one holiday in the year. It was better for young people to attend picture shows than to wander about tho town, said Councillor W. H. Bennett.

If the council was to bo consistent, it should permit Sunday pictures if Good Friday entertainments were allowed, said Councillor Mitchell. He thought permits should be declined. The mot;cn was lost, 10 votes to 5.

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—What an apathetic lot of people we are. We elect men to the City Council to represent us, and when some of those men protest against principles that wo cherish as Chvistiaim hardly a word is said. I refer to those who protested against pictures being closed on Good Friday. Now, if these latter gentlemen will, sit down quietly and fcliiuk for awhile perhaps they will come to realise that Good Friday is tlic day kept by Christians throughout the world in memory of the death and sufferings of the Son of God, and perhaps they will also come to see as they urc not children, that they are in a' responsible position to a certain extent, and therefore powers for either good or bad examples. Blake no mistake about it "as we reap we sow," and praise, and respect to God never goes unrewarded. Take your children and tell them all about ■what Christ did for them, and you and they will derive lasting benefit, instead of an aching void which this world's pleasures leaves. —I am, etc., A BELIEVER.