SUNDAY POLITICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 287, 7 November 1925, Page 8

SUNDAY POLITICS.

Tin-; Christchurch City Council had under discussion at its last meeting a proposal that political meetings should not be field on Sundays. It arose over a report tabled by the by-laws and finance committee. recommending the council to adopt a policy of prohibiting such meetings being held on Sundays either in the public streets, theatres or meeting houses, which gave rise to a very animated discussion, the Labour representatives on the council holding that it was a direct attack on the Labour Party which holds many of its political meetings on Sunday, and elevates much of its political propaganda into a sort of religion. The Mayor of Christchurch, the Lev. J. K. Archer, who, as a minister of religion, might have been expected to view the obtrusion of politics upon what should be the quiet peaceful atmosphere of the Day of Best as both undesirable and unnecessary, took exception to the recommendation, claiming that the proposal would undoubtedly interfere with the right ot free speech. Going further, he declared (and Mr Archer is by way of being somewhat of a politician) that “during the whole of his career he had never delivered a political address that he would not. deliver on a Sunday. Mr Archer is one of those wellmeaning but, as we think, mistaken people who have come to regard politics very much in the nature of a religion, and it may be remembered that certain utterances of his as President of the jN'ew Zealand Baptist Union, some years ago, came in for severe condemnation at 1 lie hands of the Chief Justice, Sir Hubert Stout, who took strong exception to his statements. It is not altogether surprising, therefore, to find him acting as an apologist for the Sunday political meetings, and stating that, if a by-law of the nature suggested by the by-laws committee were carried, he for one would defy it. But it is surely not necessary, and it is certainly not desirable, that politics should be served up every day of the week, Sundays included, and that the appeals to passion and prejudice, which are so characteristic of a certain class of politicians, should be allowed to upset the kindlier feelings which should characterise the Sabbath Day. The Labour Party, which is purely materialistic in its policy and outlook, holds its meetings in most of the centres of population on Sundays, and the stuff the public who attend such meetings are treated to is neither

helpful nor conducive to the welfare of the people as a ‘whole. Why cannot they, in common with all other parties, confine their political activities to the six week-days, leaving Sundays alone? The reason is not, of course, far to seek. Throughout the week flic picture shows and other forms of amusement engage the attention of file majority, and even Labour politics appear dry when contrasted with theatrical and other attractions. The “Standard” has repeatedly expressed its opinion that the Sunday political meeting is an undesirable institution and as unnecessary as it is undesirable. Even Mr Archer agrees it is undesirable that outdoor political meetings should be held in the streets during the customary hours of church service, for lie was one of flic nine members of the Christchurch City Council who voted for the amendment made in that direction, which replaced the original recommendation and was agreed to by nine votes to five. It is a pity that pious expression of opinion—it is nothing more —did not take According to the Government Gazette, rain fell on 29 days during September at Puysegur Point, leaving only one day in the month that was absolutely fine. the form of a direct inhibition of such meetings. The council has the control of the streets and can and has, on occasion, interfered to prevent the holding of street meetings. It also controls the licensing of halls and picture shows, theatres, etc. The public would be none the worse, but, on the contrary, a great deal better off if it made the granting of such licenses conditional on the halls or theatres not being used i;or political meeings on Sundays.