SUNDAY EVENING LABOUR MEETINGS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16769, 19 June 1920, Page 2

SUNDAY EVENING LABOUR MEETINGS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir;—Regardless of whatever arguments may be advanced either for or against the topic to be handled by one or Ne-w Zealand’s prominent Labour leaders at Everybody's 'theatre to-mor-row 'night, 1 think just a word on the propriety or otherwise of conducting meetings of this nature on Sunday evenings is extremely opportune. I take it, Sir, that the object of Mr. Holland’s visit and address is to enlist sympathy in and to expound the Labour question generally, in such a manner that any misgivings which the public mind ma- have - engendered shall bo removed and the claims of the wageearners of this country justified. Thia being the desired end, 1 offer no apology for expressing the opinion that no better procedure conducive to its defeat could have been inaugurated than the holding of such a meeting on a Sunday evening. It is a retrograde step, and one which can only be calculated to detract from, instead of adding to, the dignity to which Labour and tho Labour cause .should strive to attain. I do not wish to dwell upon the subject of general Sabbath desecration; that this evil is all too rife is patent to everyone, but I am convinced that there are many people in New Plymouth, both in and outside the ranks of the ordinary wage-earner, whose sympathies are entirely with the claims (in reason) of tho workers of this country, hut whose sense of the fitness of things would strongly resent the idea of holding public meetings on the Sabbath evening to i eitor.vte the every-day din and turmoil or class against class. Meetings of individual unions on Sundays maj r in some eases he unavoidable, circumstances peculiar to the industry concerned may not_ permit of tho meetings being held during the week; but bo this as it may, I,still submit that public sentiment is easily swayed, and one of the factors which must inevitably influence it against tho cause of the workers will prove to be the indiscretion of arranging big Labour meetings for Sunday evenings. Being a wage-earner myself, I quite recognise that by publicly expressing my opinion upon this matter I may be bringing down the proverbial “hornet’s nest,” but such a possibility need not and should not intimidate - one from publishing his honest convictions. Thanking you for valuable space.—l am, 6tC '’ G. ELLIS. South Road, June 19.