SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22058, 14 September 1933, Page 6

SUNDAY NIGHT CONCERTS

CHARGE FOR ADMISSION CITY COUNCIL’S POLICY • , NEW PROPOSAL OPPOSED. The question whether the City Council should tie its hands by deciding as a matter of policy not to allow a charge for admission to Sunday concerts in future wms the subject of a lengthy debate at the meeting of the council last night. The discussion arose out of the following recommendation in the report of the Finance Committee: —“That with respect to the letters submitted to the last meeting of the council from the Council of Christian Congregations and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union with reference to Sunday evening concerts, it be now decided as a matter of policy that, in the case of any permits that may hereafter be granted for such concerts, such permits be subject to the specific condition that no fixed charge for admission to the function is permitted.” After Cr Allen had moved the adoption of the report Cr Silverstone moved as an amendment that the clause be referred back to the committee. He stated that the council’s hands should not be tied. These concerts were not run, for profit, and the proceeds in the vast majority of cases went to the bands, whose income was small, or towards some benevolent object. Under the existing regulations the council had power to refuse to allow a charge to be made, and if the present proposal were adopted the council would have to refuse a permit whether the case was deserving or not. He did not see what good purpose the proposal would servo. If the concerts were run for private gain he could understand it, but as the proposal stood .it was harsh. Cr Scott seconded the amendment, suggesting that there might be a more liberal way out of the difficulty than by adopting the clause. “ It is possible that many people attend Sunday night concerts who would not be able to afford admission to other concerts,” said Cr Campbell. Due consideration should be given to that aspect of the matter. Cr Munro, in supporting the amendment, said that it seemed to him that the members of the committee could not trust themselves. Surely the Finance Committee and the council were competent to treat every application on its merits. Philanthropic organisations would be adversely affected if the clause were adopted because they would be prohibited from selling tickets to people who did not want to go to the concerts, but were prepared to make a contribution.

Cr MTndoe said that he was one of the members of the committee who had reserved the right to speak on the matter at the council meetings. He was going to support Cr Silverstone’s amendment. Councillors (incredulously): No!

“ I cannot see any ethical difference between making a charge and putting something in the plate,” Cr MTndoe continued. “Either it is right or it is wrong. Either the council should allow concerts on Sunday or should not. This is splitting hairs.” Cr Shepherd stated that for the first time he would also support Cr Silverstone. He claimed that Cr Munro had put up a good case. Cr Jones said that at the last meeting of the council an applicant had asked for permission to make a charge, and the council liad been unanimous in granting permission. He was surprised that the committee had now brought down this proposal, which would tie the council’s hands.

Cr Allen, in reply, expressed the hope that the amendment would be defeated. It had been a time honoured custom in the council, he said, not to grant a permit for a Sunday night concert at which a fixed charge was to be made. It was regrettable that the council should have gone back on that custom. Recently on account of the stress of the times and in an endeavour to help the queen carnival the council had opened the door to these concerts. The precedent which had now been established should not be followed.

“I am one who is not going to stand for the secularisation of Sunday,” Cr Allen continued. ‘ “ I believe that Sunday was set aside not only for churchgoers but for the good of humanity. If we turn it into a day of pleasure and excitement it will have an injurious effect on the nation. It was intended that Sunday should be a day of rest. Unfortunately many young people cannot have a day of rest. They want excitement every day and night in the week.”

So far as the bands were concerned, he continued, the committee was not seeking to injure them in the least. For years there had been only collections at their concerts.

Cr Jones: It takes them all their time to make the concerts pay. Cr Allen; Only recently they had assistance from the council.

Cr Marlow said that Cr Allen had suggested that the queen carnival had been the cause of the council changing its policy with respect to charges. He would like to point out that two years ago the council had decided to allow a cliarge when the whole of the proceeds of a concert went to charity. The amendment was carried, the voting being as follows; — For the amendment (seven): Crs Munro, Jones, M'lndoe, Scott, Marlow, Silverstone and Shepherd.

Against the amendment (six): Crs Shacklock, Allen, Begg, Campbell, Borrie and the Mayor.