Y.W.C.A. CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15398, 5 September 1913, Page 5

Y.W.C.A. CAMPAIGN.

BANNERS ACROSS STREETS.

A TROUBLESOME BY-LAW.

A request came before the City Council last evening from the Young Women's Christian Association for permission to erect and display a banner across the roadway at the corner of Queen and Customs Streets, Queen and Wellesley Streets, and Pitt Street sad Karangabape Road, from September 9 to 25, in connection with the association's building fund campaign. The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) pointed out that according to the by-law the council could not grant the permission sought.

Mr. A. J. Entrican said the object for which th') request was made was a good one, and he moved that permission should be given to fix the'banner, subject to the approval of the engineer.

Miss Melville said that this was the first occasion the young women had made a request to the council. They were particularly law-abiding citizens, but they thought that on this occasion the by-law might be suspended. This would mean a good deal to the association, '' The banner," said Miss Melville, " will be ornamental in design, and I ask the council to suspend the by-law for the time being." 'lhe Mayor said the by-law could not be suspended. He had every sympathy with tue objects of the association, and he looked upon it as a disgrace that the members of the Young Men's Christian Association were housed in a palace, while the young women were domiciled in a hovel, so to speak. "We cannot, however," said the Mayor, "commit a deliberate breach of our own by-laws. With all the desire in the world I cannot advise that the by-law should be broken. If it were not for the by-law I would be prepared to risk the creating of a precedent by giving the permission asked, but I cannot risk the deliberate breaking of a by-law. 1 Mr. Entrican said that after the reasons advanced by the Mayor it would not be wise to pass a formal resolution, giving the desired permission. Judging by the temper of the council, however, > he did not think that any serious objection would be taken if the association took French leave j and erected the banner.

Mr. P. J. Nerheny referred to the fact that the church to which he belonged had been refused, perhaps rightly, a similar concession. Amid laughter, he suggested as a way out of the present difficulty that the association should be allowed to erect its banner as a sample for the Exhibition decorations.

Eventually it was left to the Mayor and city engineer to ascertain if there was any way in which the request could be granted without violating the by-law. A number of business men, including the Advisory Board of the Y.W.C.A., met at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday, and resolved themselves into a Citizens' Committee, to assist in the coming building campaign. Mi'. J. J, Craig, who was chairman of a similar organisation during the young men's campaign last year, was elected chairman. In accepting the position, Mr. Craig remarked that he would be perfectly satisfied if the result of the campaign in behalf of the young women was as successful as that recently made by the young men. Mr. Todd-Smith was elected secrtary and treasurer. Definite steps were taken to increase the membership, and ensure the usefulness of the committee. Amongst those present were the Mayor, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, and Messrs. Bush, Buttle, Caughey, Craig, Gladding, Harrop, Newcomb, Pacey, Smeeton, Todd-Smith, Spragg, J. W. Stewart, R. L. Stewart, and Wiseman.