OPEN-AIR MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15558, 7 March 1911, Page 3

OPEN-AIR MEETINGS.

OBJECTIONS TO CONTROL IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE.

BREACHES QF BY-LAW TO BE CHECKED.

The decision of the City Council to limit- all open air meetings to the northwest cornor of Cathedral Square, drew some protests from bodies that had previously used other portions of tho Square, and tlioy were rend at last evening's meeting of the City Council. Brigadier Albiston, of the Salvation Army, wrote expressing regret at the Council’s decision that all open air meetings should be hold in the northwest. corner of Cathedral Square, and requesting that the Salvation Army should be permitted to continue its mootings in its accustomed place. Letters were also received from tho Sydenham Gospel Mission and Mr G. AV. Plimsoll, asking for permission to revert to their old meeting places. Councillor H. J. Otlev moved that all tho applications should Ine refused, lie said that tho by-law had been passed to prevent obstruction of traffic, and remove those persons who had occupied the central positions. Councillor H. B. Sorensen, in seconding tho motion, said that- if the Council had been compelled to remove the carriers’ stands from Cathedral Square, it was only reasonable to remove religious and other bodies, and if they did not obey the by-laws their license to use any part or the Square for the meetings should be cancelled. Councillor T. Gapes said that if those who used the Square did not exercise a little more discretion in the matter of tho noise they made, they should be prohibited. On tho previous Sunday Archdeacon Harper, who was in the Anglican Cathedral, had had to suspend his sermon because of the noise in Cathedral Square. Councillor H. T. J. Thacker said that he did not know why the letters should be considered at all. The Council had made a by-law, which was now in force. Even the present permits were only temporary. The councillors should show that they were vertebrates —not invertebrates. The Mayor said that the letters usually laid on tho table were those dealt with by committees, and that course could, not bo followed with letters addressed to the Council. He added that he was pained to see that tho Salvation Army was leading the mutiny against the Council. The members should set an examplo as law-abiding citizens instead of sotting the Council et defiance. The Salvation Army had defied the Council, and the Socialists bad followed suit. If the Council vacillated. it would become the puppet cf those who held meetings in the Square. Councillor 11. B. Sorenson moved that the license should be taken from any body violating the by-laws. He **id that on Sunday afternoon both Salvation Army and Socialists had been in Cathedral Square, and if the Salvation Army had a right to bo south of the tramway shelter tho Socialists had the same right. The Mayor said that notice of the motion should be given to allow everybody to have an opportunity of knowing what was to be dene. In any case trespassers on the by-law could be prosecuted immediately and the Bylaws Committee could bo depended on to do what was necessary. Councillor J. J. Doug-all said that the By-laws Committee bad reported that the Salvation Army bad continued to hold its meetings near the Godlov Statue after receiving notice that all meetings were to be hold in the northwest corner of tho Square, and ho wished to know what would bo done. Councillor Otlev said that the carrying out of the by-law v.ns a matter either for the Council’s officers or the police. Councillor J. >T. Dougall said that the Council’s offirers would not prosecute unless under instructions from the Council’s committee, and at present the committee seemed rather diffident in the matter. Councillor C. D. Morris moved that the Council's officers should be instructed to prosecute for all breaches of the bv-laws. He remarked that it was time the Council ceased to play with the matter. The motion was carried.