SUNDAY CONCERTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 303, 20 November 1934, Page 2

SUNDAY CONCERTS

QUESTION OF PICTURES. COUNCIL DECIDES PRINCIPLE. “There arc far too many Sunday concerts. Applications are constantly coming forward and now we have one for a picture as well,” commented Cr W. B. Cameron, at the meeting of the Palmerston North City Council, last evening, when the City Silver Band sought permission to hold a concert at a theatre on Sunday, December 2. The matter led to considerable discussion on the principles involved and the policy to be followed by the council. “What guarantee have we that these concerts are of a sacred nature? asked Cr Cameron.

The Mayor: The council has laid down the conditions. The concerts have to be sacred. “The town cierk at Wellington peruses all such programmes,” stated Cr Cameron. “The time is coming when this council wi],l have to exercise more control over Sunday night concerts. Tap-dancing surely does not come within the category of a sacred concert. Permission is given for them Sunday after Sunday here without any censorship or restriction whatever. We should have better control. Cr W. B. Tennent said that the screening of a picture was projected in connection with this concert. Other equally worthy applications of a Similar nature might come forward in the future. The council should definitely set its face against Sunday pictures. The Mayor: Would you stop a sacred picture? “I would on a Sunday,” said Cr Tennent. “I do not see why the council should countenance it. Sunday pictures should not be allowed under any conditions whatever. We should set our faces against it.” Cr R. L. C. Aitoliison said lie realised that the time had arrived when Sunday concert programmes should be submitted to a special committee of the council for approval. The term “sacred” was wrong. The Mayor said that a sub-commit-tee had been set up to deal wit] 1 the screening of pictures on Good Friday and Christmas Day, and it could not be expected to review every programme contemplated- for a Sunday. The programmes could be referred to tlie town clerk for approval, as in Wellington. _ , “If Sunday pictures were submitted to me for censorship they certainly would be censored,” stated Cr Tenlient. The Mayor: Even if they were for charitable purposes? “Yes, for any purpose whatever, said Cr Tennent, “because I regard this as the thin end of the wedge. I would definitely refuse to sanction Sunday pictures.” The suggestion was made by the Mayor that the City Band’s application might he approved, subject to compliance with the conditions laid down by the council, the programme to be submitted to a special committee for approval. Cr W. H. Brown asked what was the position if the picture to be screened was not of a sacred nature. What was a sacred concert? The Mayor said it must be of a nature suitable to the occasion. If they were going to be sacred concerts, the council should see that they were really sacred, said Cr Teiinent. They should definitely face that aspect of the matter or else the concerts should be stopped altogether. Cr Brown said the Garrison Band had advertised its concerts as Sunday concerts—not sacred concerts. They had been properly conducted, and there had been on rowdyism. ENTIRELY NEW ISSUE. Cr Cameron expressed the opinion that the matter of Sunday pictures and Sunday concerts should be decided separately. The application involving the screening of pictures, lie said, was opening up an entirely new issue. The council should be given the opportunity to vote straight out on the establishment of the principle whether or not Sunday pictures should be permitted. Supposing that a picture was not sacred, but one with a suitable moral, inquired Cr Hodgens, would the council not approve of it? 1 Such a picture might be more compelling than one of a straight-out sacred character. “I, with Cr Tennent, intend to attack the type of Sunday concert that we have,” said Cr Cameron. Cr H. B. Free asked if it was proposed to require programmes to be submitted to the town clerk for approval. . . . . “Is any councillor in the position to say that in the past Sunday concerts have complied with the conditions of the resolution on the council’s books?” asked Cr Tennent. Cr Brown : Who would be ? The Mayor: I cannot give you any information. • “I suggest that the council attend a concert as a body,” said Cr Brown. COUNCIL GIVES APPROVAL.

A resolution approving of the application to hold a Sunday concert, without involving the question of pictures was carried, the permission to be subject to the conditions laid down by the council. The Mayor then moved that permission be granted to screen a Sunday picture, subject to the programme being submitted to the council for approval. He added that he did pot think there would be any complaints about the class of picture he passed for a Sunday night. _ Declaring the resolution carried by five votes to four, the Mayor asked who did not vote.

Cr Tremaine: I did not. The Mayor: You will have to express your opinion one way or the other. Cr Tremaine said that as a general rule ho did not approve of Sunday pictures, but if they were for charitable purposes he would not like his decision to stand in the way of that. Accordingly, he would support the motion. This was then carried by six votes to four. Those who opposed the motion were Crs. Cameron, Tennent, Aitcliison and Free.' Application for permission to conduct a sacred concert in a theatre on Sunday December 9, was .made by the Palmerston North Garrison Band. This was granted subject to the usual conditions.

PROBLEM OF CENSORSHIP. Subsequently Cr Tennent moved that in future Sunday programmes including encore items he referred to the town clerk and the Mayor for approval at least two days beforehand. The Mayor said he might not agree with the town clerk, and that would place him in the position of being practically the sole arbiter. tie did not care to accept that responsibility. Cr Tremaine asked why the town clerk should be placed in the position of having to hear any criticism. Cr A. A. Langley: Why not appoint Cr Tennent sole censor? The Mayor: You are taking a risk. Cr Hodgens commented that the position was hardly fair to the town clerk, and on' his motion an amendment’ was carried leaving the responsibilitj' in the hands of the Christmas censorship committee, consisting of the Mayor and Cr Tennent.,