CHRISTMAS DAY SHOWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21641, 6 November 1933, Page 10

CHRISTMAS DAY SHOWS

jp| CTURE THEATRE PERMITS , CHANGES IN THE CITY - The attitude of Auckland local bodies .toward the showing of pictures on (Christmas Day is now much more favourable than it was 10 years ago, and even in that period the opinion has varied with successive councils. Even before the Auckland City Council looked upon the opening of picture, theatres on that day as something that could' possibly be conceded, |ome of the suburban authorities were granting permits and pictures were being screened, while all picture houses in the city were closed.

The application of the picture theatre proprietors for permission to open on Christmas Day, 1925, was declined by the Auckland City Council, but the following year the council agreed to allow the picture houses to open from 2.30 p.m., a precedent which was followed in 1928. In the years 1927 and 1932, Christmas Day fell on Sunday, and no application to remain open was received, but in 1930 a total prohibition against the showing of pictures was enforced. Tho hours during which tho .theatres were permitted to remain open were considerably modified under the permit granted in 1929, when it was decreed that programmes could not start until 7 p.m. That was repeated in 1931, and is the method adopted for Christmas Day this year. In nearly all cases where permits for Christmas Day havo been issued in the city, tho condition has been imposed that no theatre employee who desires to have a holiday on that day is to be compelled to work, and tlio programme to be shown has had to be approved by the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, or a member, of the council.