SUNDAY MUSIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9915, 2 August 1910, Page 2

SUNDAY MUSIC.

ONE CONCERT TO BE GIVEN.

THE MAYOR INTERVIEWED

Tho resolution of the City Oc-uncil last evening that permission should not be given for any further Sunday concerts in the city created considerable consternation among the professional musicians this morning, when they found that their arrangements for a series of concerts in aid of the funds of a benevolent society to help indigent nlavers, were nullified, * Messrs H. Diedrichsen and F. Robertshew waited on the Mayor at noon to ascertain the position, and the result of their conference was that permission was given for the Society to hold the concert already advertised for next Sunday in the Theatre Royal. At a previous interview Mr Allison gave permission for a concert, but stipulated that the matter should be brought before the Council in the form of a letter. At the meeting it was resolved that tho application for a series of concerts should not be granted, but this action did not over-ride the action of the Mayor in giving permission for one concert.

Mr Diedrichsen stated this morning that the action of the Council had completely squashed the- hopes of the musicians, and he asked what could be done towards giving the concert already advertised, over which several men had already spent some- money. The Mayor said that he had brought the application before the Council because- of the expressions of opinion that had been made to him that the matter of Sunday concerts was being exploited in a bare-faced manner in all quarters, and it was time that a stop should be put to it. He had the Council's assent to consent to any performance that he thought was for a worthy object, but he had wished to bring the up again and get an expression of He had given the musicians permission for ono concert, and that stood, and so long as thero was not more than one application a month, and that for a worthy object, ho thought that thero would bo little trouble. Mr Diedrichsen said that the work was a labour of lovo, and the men were doing it to help their poorer brethren. The different managers had assisted .them in many ways, and they looked to the public to give them somo support. The idea that they were trying to foster was quile unselfish. The Mayor said that the organisation was practically a benefit society, and unless there was a specific case of charity, to Iks relieved, there would be little hope of permission being granted for further concorts.

In reply to Mr Robertshaw, Mr Allison said that the musicians could putin. another application when a month had expired, and he would consider whether he would be justified in granting it if they would specify the cause for which the concert would be given. A COUNCILLOR'S VIEWS. Chatting with a, reporter to-day, Councillor W. H. Cooper said that hecould see no valid objection to allowing the musicians to hold one concert in aid of charity, and he did not see that a great deal of harm would be done by music on Sunday, as long as the privileges of the majority were not interfered with in any way. Tho matter had been considered by him, at some length, and he thought "that the action of the Council was to a great extent justified, as thero was at present a danger of the right to give concerts being encroached upon. Mo one certainly ' had any right to extort money by posting a placard stating that certain patrons of a Sunday entertainment should be expected to contribute a shilling for their seats, and he was strongly against such a dodging of tho by-law, but on the whole no One could reasonably object to Sunday concerts in .moderation for charitable purposes. "What we have to guard against." he said, "is the fact that other forms of entertainment may be started, and in the end wo may havo all places of amusement open under the gui?o of sacred concerts. Then such a state of things might obtain as that recently in Sydney, when permits were piven by tho municipality for concerts and matters got so bad that at one theatre a. number of people were found dancing behind the scenes. The whole of the permits had to bo stopped then. I do not think that such a state would bo come to in Christchurch, but still tho Council must keep an eye open for tho thin end of the wedge, and the feelings of those who wish fqr a proper observance of Sunday must be respected."