WARM WORDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17199, 20 June 1916, Page 7

WARM WORDS.

DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL.

SUNDAY MEETINGS AND CONSCRIPTION.

'A somewhat heated discussion took place in the City Council last night. on a letter received from Mr F. R. Cooke covering the following motion, earned at a meeting in the. Socialist Hajli-

" This meeting of citizens emphatically protests at the action of the Mayor ia refusing to permit the people's representatives, Messrs M'Oombs, Webb, Hindmarsh, Payno and Walker, from being heard at a public meeting in this city on Sunday." The letter requested the council to discuss the matter in open council. Councillor H. J. Otley moved that the letter should be laid on the table. ', " Put jt under the table," said Councillor J. O. Jameson. Councillor F. Burgoyne, in moving that the letter should be received, saw that it did not matter what the views of the speakers might bo, no bias should be shown. He thought they had been treated unfairly. Councillor H. F. Herbert, ra seconding the amendment, asked whether the Mayor was informed of the subject of the motion, "I don't think I am called on to explain," said the Mayor. "The object of the meeting was 'to explain their position.'" Councillor Otley protested that none of the speakers were Christchurch representatives. They were there to oppose the Military Service Bill, and from the way they had opposed it in the House no decent people would have wanted to hear them in Christchurch. "Why wasn't Miss Pankhurst stopped?" asked Councillor Herbert, " she was speaking on the same lines*' Councillor W. Miller said that he was surprised at the bombast of Councillor Otley, who had opposed every progressive motion in the council. He was surprised at the Mayor's onesided attitude. The speakers were as decent as Councillor Otley. "If they are not," he said. " they must be very low down indeed. * Councillor Miller was promptly called on to withdraw and did so. He went on to say that the Mayor, as usual, had been sitting on the rail, Again Councillor Miller was called on to withdraw and did so. He went on to sav that there was a combined 6ilence try Press and public men to keep the public in darkness and ignorance. He added an allegation about a recruiting officer who, he said, had gone to a house in Linwood to inquire about the whereabouts of a man who was not in. There was only an old lady present, aged about eighty, and she did not know the man's whereabouts. The officer said, " I will very soon find out whether he is in or not," and, pushing past the old woman, had ransacked the man's correspondence. , • " After what has been said by Councillor Miller." said the Mayor, "I think I should state why I acted as I did. First of all, the was purelv political It was in no wise a jacred meeting. Certainly some of the so-called sacred concerts have not come up to my idea of a sacred concert, but in this case permission was asked to take up a collection by gentlemen receiving £3OO a year, and personally I think there is ample time in the six days of the week to conduct political meetings, without trenching on the Sabbath. There is a very large section of the Christian community of this city, not particularly churchgoers, who totally disapprove of Sunday being taken up in this way, and I do not remember a political meeting being held on Sunday even in the heat of an election. As the Military Service Bill has now passed the Lower House no possible good could come of discussing it, and a great deal of harm might come. Then, again, not one of the speakers was a Christchurch representative. Councillor Miller: They were invited. The Mayor: I never heard that at all. At any rate. Ido not consider it is part of my duty to offer facilities to gentlemen who ought to go to the front and won't go, and who are spending their time in persuading others not to go. For that reason I refused to grant permission. Application was only made at 1 p.m. on Fridav, and I had no opportunity of consulting the council. I acted on my own.judgment, and I know I shall have th" rapport of the council. Tho motion was carried on the voices.