TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2065, 9 December 1919, Page 3

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

- PICTURES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. At. last night’s .Council meeting Mr T. Powell and Messrs Hamer and Son made application for permission to show pictures on Christmas Day. The Mayor moved, and (T. Bryant seconded, that permission he granted, subject to programmes containing (iims of a scenic and educational character.

In speaking to the motion, the Mayor said that last year permission was granted, and he considered that unless some further reasons ugainst were brought forward the Council should again accede to tire request of the showmen. Cr Thompson said that last year tie had opposed the applications, and lie would do so again this year, Christmas Day and Sundays were holy days, and days of rest, and if they kept thc.picture theatres dosed it allowed those connected with them to have a holiday. Cx - . "Walker said lie also was opposed to granting permission. Cr. Coley thought there was any amount of time during the year for pictures, without showing them on Christmas Daw

Cr. McMurray said Iliad lie supported Christmas Day pictures last year, on the understanding that the programmes were first to be submitted to the Mayor i'or jiis approval, lie was afraid, however, (hat the Mayor never saw the programme, which in bis (Cr. McMarray) opinion was not a suitable one. He was prepared to again support the applications, provided the Mayor saw the programmes to be screened, but not otherwise. There was no harm in pictures being shown on Christmas Day, or even on Sundays, provided the right class of picture was screened. Better sermons could begot from pictures than were .sometimes preached in some churches. The Mayor; Fox ton churches excepted, of coui’se! Cr. McMurray: No ; I don’t except local churches, either! The motion, with the addition that the programmes are to he submitted to the Mayor for approval, was then put »and carried on the easting vote .of the Mayor, the voting being: For, the Mayor and Crs. McMurray, Hunt, Band and Parkin. Against, Crs. Coley, Bryant, Thompson. Pearson, and Walker.