SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 7

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENTS

THE LEGAL ASPECT MR JUSTICE REED’S DECISION. (Peg United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Marclr 22. Questions of law governing the holding of Sunday evening entertainments ’ were argued before Mr Justice Reed in the Supreme Court. The case was an appeal by the Auckland branch of the Labour Party against its conviction and fine by Mr W. R. M‘Kean, S.M., for holding >.n entertainment on Sunday evening without having first obtained the permission of the City Council. A suggestion by his Honor that the ease should be taken to the Court of Appeal was not accepted on the ground of expense. His _ Honor spd he had formed a very definite view during the course of the proceedings. A section made it penal to hold a concert or entertainment of any kind open to the public on Sunday, Good Friday, or Christmas Day. It had been held by Mr Justice Herdman that the question _ whether, admission wag paid or not did not enter into the matter, so that the whole point to be decided was whether there was on this occastion an entertainment. It was true that the whole function could, not properly be described as an entertainment, but it was perfectly clear that for half the time there was what was strictly within the meaning of word entertainment. It was probably subsidiary to the principal object of the meeting, but it undoubtedly formed an attraction, and he thought it was an integral part of the programme. It really was the greatest' inducement to a large number of those present. It was clear that the appellant was responsible for holding an entertainment, and the appeal would be dismissed, with £7 7s costs and disbursements.