SUNDAY WORK ON THE TRAMWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5467, 27 August 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUNDAY WORK ON THE TRAMWAYS.

At the City Counoil yesterday,

Cr Fish, previous to the orders of the day being gone on witb, wished to direct attententien to a matter that ought, he thought, to be stopped, ; In one of the daily papers he had observed a letter to this effcot:— "Sir, —In the name of all that ii saored and deoent, I protest against the daring and disgraceful outrage perpetrated yesterday ih King and Albany streets by about 30 labourers being employed in altering the tramway rails. How will the oitizeni receive the burning insult thus given them ?— Citizen," Now ht did sot endorse the extravagant language used in that letter, and did not desire to set himself up in any shape or form as a rigid Sabbatarian,: but he did think that it was wrong that men should be employed in the publio streets on Sundays, unless under the niott urgent ciroumstances. He thought that the religious feelings of the community ought to be respected with something like deoenoy by persons having the control of the publio streets for a oertain purpose. He moved tbat the matter be referred to the Tramways Committee for inquiry and report. He did not know the ciroumitsnces of the case, and for aught he knew, it might have been an absolute neoesslty that these men should havo been so engaged. One set of people might not think Sunday of. any consequence, nor that it should ba held saored, but a very large number of people in the community thought to the contrary, and their opinions and feelings ought to be respeoted. Cr Boss seconded the motion. If the matter had not been mentioned by Or Fish, he would havo brought it before the Counoil himself, .

The Mayor stated that he had intended to request tbe Town Clerk to call Mr Proudfoot s attention to the matter, and to have asked whether it was correct or not. However, it was a matter that tbe Tramways Committee could well deal with.

Cr Aldrich ; The thing is done now. It is hardly worth while taking aotion. Cr Koberts s They might undo it, if wrong. Cr Fisk : It may be the-means of (topping it in the future.

The motion was agreed to.