SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9305, 4 August 1908, Page 1

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

THE BANDS ASSOCIATION'S REQUEST. PERMISSION FOR CONCERTS REFUSED. The question of Sunday concerts was finally before the City Council last evening, being brought forward by the report of the Bands Committee, which stated that it could not recommend the Council to grant the request of the | Domain Board that the Council should provide bands to play in the Gardens on Sunday afternoons. The committee had considered the application of the South Island Brass Bands' Association for permission to give Sunday evening concerts. The committee found that where permission had been granted, as ! in Sydney and Dunedin, it had been withdrawn after trial. In these circumstances, the committee preferred to leave the decision of the matter to the Council. The first clause was adopted. A letter was then read from th^> Christchurch Presbyterian Church Association, protesting against the granting of licensed premises for Sunday concerto. Councillor Williams moved- — " That the request be not granted.' 1 Councillor Horsley seconded the motion, saying that, after the expressions of /opinion on all bides, the Council j could come to no other decision. j Councillor Hall said that, although he had every respect for the reverend gentlemen who had waited on the Council, and he would hare liked to j defer to their opinion, he , thought that qualified permission should be given. He detailed the reasons given by the Association, but said iSat the last reason regarding ) funds should be thrown out altogether. | The opponents of the proposal joined i issue on the statement that the con- j certs would do good, and that was the point in contention. He saw no harm in properly-conducted sacred concerts, j and the objection that they would draw people away from church could be met by arranging the concerts so that they would not claeh with church hours. He moved as an amendment that permission should be given to hold twelve sacred Sunday concerts, commencing at 8.30 p.m., the programmes to be submitted to the city organist for his approval, and the Bands' Association to, give a. guaranty for the performance at ouch concerts of only items in the programmes so approved, and ensure proper behaviour at the concerts. If the Council could insist on these conditions, ho added, all would be well, and if not ; ,t was a very weak Council. Councillor Sorensen supported the motion, saying that there was no reatioa. why any Sunday entertainments ehould be given for gain by any body, for ihorfr would then be no reason why a theatrical company should not obtain j the samo privilege. Councillor Otley neconded the amend- ' mont. He said that a Sunday evening concert, given after church hours, could not do any more ha-rm than ono given in the Domain in the daytime. - f!!ouncillor Hyde said he would be in favour of three concerts, but objected to twelve. v Councillor Paroons said that the bandsmen in a body had never come forward in support of the request for concerts, and after the very strong representations from the churches on the other side the Council could but support the motion He was not aware that anything in the engagement of* the city organist bound Jum ta h**

come sponsor for Sunday concert pro grammes. Councillor Taylor strongly supportec the motion. The amendment was lost, (Vmncillott Hall and Otley alone voting for it, anc the motion wae carried.