SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Evening Star, Issue 17543, 24 December 1920, Page 9

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l not:co how easily the city councillors change their oraefs. The upkeep for writing material must be great. The clergy put their heads together and think that the St. Hilda Band is the cause of it. Surely each church has its regular churchgoers. They attend church meetings because it is a pleasure to them; so wiry need the rev. gentlemen be afraid of losing their flocks? These selfish gentleriien fail to sec why we should be allowed any pleasure at all because wo do not go to their churches. I notice one of the councillors, in particular, likes to see everyone enjoy himself. He made a bold stand for the non-churchgoers; but, unfortunately, we have not enough young blood in the council. Everyone must know (our clerical friends included) that there would not be so many Sunday night street patrollers if those on tho streets had.somewhere to go. 'Take the Salvation Army, for example. See Jiow everyone flocks to hear them. They give us a very short meeting outsiuo, and a very disappointed crowd that lopks on as they march off. I would suggest that the Triangle be well lit up, so as to give the public a chance to hear a band in the evening, whenever possible, on Sundays.—l am, etc., INDIGNANT. December 23. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I should lite, to know, sir, r througli you- in what way would I have to go about getting a referendum taken on tho question of Sunday concerts? It seems to mo ridiculous that the council, by one wobbly vote, should have the power to stop the people's pleasure. It is a wellknown fact that only one-fourth—and that is allowing a good margin—of ,the people of Dunedin go to church on Sunday nights. What, therefore, becomes of the "balance? It would do the clergy a heap of good to take a stroll round the streets after 6.30 p.m. and take a note of the number of young fellows and girls patrolling; the streets. Would it not be much better for them and for this City as a whole if, instead of walking the streets they were able to listen to the glorious music of the great composers .rendered as our bands can undeniably render it? What is more beautiful thau music, and how much does the Church use music to help their service through? If it was not for the music the church service would be dull indeed, and the Church would lose its glory. Music, sacred or secular,' is the outward expression by the people of their inward snirituality. It was only tho other day that an immense new and powerful organ was erected in St. Paul's Cathedral. Was it put there for nothing? Instead of attempting to suppress the best in people, why does not the Church rise superior and say: "Yes, have your Sunday night sacred concerts after we have had our church service, and allow ns the privilege of exhorting the people by prayer during the concert" Who would object?

Mr Barr strayed very far when he said that the band would overstep the mark by playing secular music. Let me inform Mr Barr that some of the most glorious operatic music written is as sacred . as church music. But why, Mr Barr, accuse tho bands beforehand? That is not strictly British. - J

Cr MiDonald and his party deserve the greatest credit for walking out of the council chambers, considering that the meeting was called to discuss Sunday night concerts, and not whether pictures should or should not be shown on Christmas Day. Cr Hayward deserves the severest condemnation for his change of front. Nobody is safe when councillors wobble so. Let him publicly state why he turned such a quick somersault. Give your reasons, Cr Hayward. No wonder your confreres walked out of the council. Cr Wilson ventilates tho fireman's grievance in that they have to torn out on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Cr Wilson was not fully aware of tho facts. In the first case, the picture proprietors did not ask for Good Friday, and in the second case the firemen made no error in demanding double pay from "the picture proprietors for Christmas night. It was in the nature of an ultimatum. If the picture proprietors did not pay them gs for Christmas night tho firemen refused to attend the picture theatres. How does that strike yon, Cr Wilson? Was it principle or money? I have it on the best of authority that no picture proprietors asked to be allowed to screen pictures on Sunday evenings, bnt application was made for Sunday night concerts. Regarding pictures on Christmas Dav and the employees, it is quite true that the _ latter cannot claim double pay for Christmas Day under their award; bnt is it not a_ fact that the picture proprietors are paying their employees double pav without having been asked to do so? It is well that tho public should know this fact before iudgment is passed. • Tn conclusion," I challenge Cr Shaddock and_ others who voted in favor of the motion to prevent Sunday night concerts to put the issue to the electors. Will they =BO so?—I am, etc., "P. 8." December 23. "

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—An opportunity Was given the councillors to fetch this .City into line ! with the more progressive northern centres and give after-church Sunday night concerts._ The opportunity was lost through the instrumentality cf a certain section whose out-of-date and bigoted ideas are' mainly responsible for tho retarding effect which has kept Dunedin with the same number of inhabitants over a period of years in which Auckland has almost doubled its population. The transfer statistics of the R.S.A. might be enlightening in this respect, and it is largely attributable to the killjoy tactics employed by many of our leading, or rather mis-1 leading, citizens. Sunday concerts, with a silver coin admission, have been given for a nambor of years in Wellington, and never has the privilege been abused by more concessions being asked for. This | should be a fitting answer to the absurd argument about further encroachments. It was suggested by one gentleman that a certain theatre had made application to; show pictures on the Sunday. This 11 know to be either a malicious distortion i of the truth or an unpreparednes3 with j the facts of the case that should immediately have robbed the speaker's words of any weight they might have carried. WTiy the endeavors of an amateur band, whose members give their services prac--ticaliy gratis, should be discouraged would no doubt receive the answer 'from that person that he preferred to see our youths aimlessly leaning- against the verandah posts on Sunday type of gentleman who "inculcated ns with I weird ideas of Sunday-!ess France, depraved Palis, and the degenerate Frenchman, until we went over and fought along* : side what transpired to be an honorable and God-fearing brother-in-arms. Of the clergy composing about five-sevenths of the deputation and representing one-seventh of the citizens I would ask: If music is the most divine expression God has granted ns, why suppress it? If.not, why do the churches of all denominations . utilise it for theatrical effects in their services? If the churches are' failing in their mission through the manner in which the " lesson " is expounded, why attempt to debar the hundreds or thousands of non-attendants a little healthy mental relaxation, for such music surely is?. Is.it merely selfishness, or are they acknowledging, after centuries of teaching, the danger of even afterchurch competition? It is both unjust and incompatible with the dignity of the cloth to interfere with the lihaiAies instead of alleviating the sufferings of their fellowcreatures. I trust the bands will not let the matter drop, and wish them all the success their enterprise deserves. May it be tho inauguration of a-Brighter Dunedin League^—l am, etc., L.S.W. December 24.