SUNDAY CONCERTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 7

SUNDAY CONCERTS

MINISTERS' PROTEST

PETONE COUNCIL DISCUSSION

A protest against the holding of Sunday evening concerts was received at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last evening from the ministers of Pelonc. The council received at the same time a letter from the western queen carnival committee 01 the Hutt Valley Lawn Tennis Subassociation applying for permission to hold a Sunday night picture benefit. The letter from the ministers was as follows.' — . . "We. the undersigned, being ministers of the various Christian congregations in Petone. hava had ouv attention drawn lo the announcement cm a further concert on Sunday, November 15. We desire to point out and deprecate the increasing practice of holding Sunday evening concerts in Pctoiv;. Without wishing to bo provocative, we nevertheless feel it our duty to protest earnestly against the permission being granted and to urge in the best interests of the community that concerts on Sundays be not allowed, for experience teaches us that they militate against the Christian observance of Sunday as a day of rest and worship. While we sympathise with the motive for many of the concerts, as Christian leaders we do protest against the use of Sunday for holding them. However worthy the object, we suggest that the use of Sunday for the concert does not exalt the object in any way, nor does it give opportunity for the materialising of Sunday. We therefore ur£;e that Sunday concerts be not permitted and that other nights through the week be utilised for such events." The letter was signed by the foillowing members of the Pctons Ministers Fraternal: The Revs. J. C. Loan (chairman). E. Ray Vickery, H. S. I. Kenney, E. E. Sage, and D. C. McKee. It was stated that Major -R. C. Lamond (Salvation ArmyK who was out of town, also supported the protest. The Mayor (Mr, A. Scholefield) said that by resolution and practice the council had allowed Sunday evening concerts subject to the programmes being submitted for perusal by the Mayor and no charge being made for admission. He had attended only one Sunday evening concert and that was the one last evening. He thought it his duty to attend in his official capacity and say good-bye to one who had rendered service to the community. <

Speaking on the application from the' queen carnival committee . Councillor J. C. Burns moved that the request be not granted. No one could accuse him of being a "wowser," he said, but if an important body like the tertnis sub-association could not keep going without resorting to Sunday picture shows it should close down. This was a scheme' to raise money for a sporting concern. The council decided to refuse the request. With reference to the letter from the ministers. Councillor Bums moved that it be "received," saying that the council dealt with each application on its merits. The council decided on this course.