PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 24 April 1852, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETINGS.

We beg to call especial attention to the advertisement which appears in another column, calling public meetings at Lyttelton and Christchurch for the purpose of organizing the settlers into a general society, for the discussion of public questions. We regret, however, to observe that the Christchurch meeting is called for twelve o'clock. Morning meetings in a colony are shams. If the new society is to be a reality and not a sham, it must be joined by all classes of the community, and the whole of the working classes, and men of business are practically excluded from attending morning meetings. The mass of the people will not join any meeting called before business hours are over. It has been tried before, and has failed. It may be urged that the settlers at a distance cannot come in to an evening meeting, as the}' could not return in the dark. Why not ? Let moon light time be selected for the meetings, and if they really care about theobject in view they will attend. There is nothing to prevent them, whereas to call a meeting in business hours is simply to invite all idlers, and men who have no business to constitute themselves " the people." If this plan of calling morning meetings is continued, we advise the working classes at Christchurch to call a meeting for themselves, and then it will be seen which is best attended.