WARM WORDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11729, 20 June 1916, Page 2

WARM WORDS.

DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL. SUNDAY MEETINGS AND CONSCRIPTION. A "somewhat heated discussion took place in the City Council last night on. a letter received from Mr F. It. Cooke covering tho following motion, carried at a meeting in the Socialist Hall : "This meeting of citizens emphatically protests at tho action of tho Mayor iu refusing to permit the people's representatives, Messrs M'Combs, Webb, Hitidmarsh, Payne and Walker, from being heard at a public meeting in this city on Sunday." The letter requested the council to discuss tho matter in open council. Councillor H. J. Otley moved that the letter should bo laid on tho tabic. " Put it under tho table," said Coun'cillor J. 0, Jameson. Councillor F. Burgoyuo, in moving that the letter should bo received, said that it did not matter what the views of tho speakers might be, no bias should bo shown, lie thought they had been treated unfairly. Councillor H. F. Herbert, in seconding the amendment, asked whether the Mayor was informed of tho subject of the motion. . "I don't think I am called on to explain,'' said tho Mayor. "The object of tho mooting was 'to explain their position.' " Councillor Otley protested that none of tho speakers wero Christ-church representatives. They wero there to oppose the Military Service Bill, and from the way they had opposed it in the House no decent people would have wanted to hoar them in Christchurch." " Why wasn't Miss Paukhurst stopped?" asked Councillor Herbert, "she was speaking on the same lines.'' Councillor W. Miller said that he was surprised at the bombast of Councillor Otley, who had opposed every progressive motion in the council. Ho was surprised at tho Mayor's onesided attitude. The speakers wero as decent as Councillor Otley. ''lf they are not," he said. " they must be very low down indeed." Councillor Miller was promptly called on to withdraw and did so. Ho went on to say that the Mayor, as usual, had been sitting on the rail. Again Councillor Miller was called on to withdraw and did so. He went on to say that thero was a combined silence by Press and public men to keep the public in darkness and ignorance. Ho added an allegation about a recruiting officer who, he said, had gone to a house in Linwood to inquire about the whereabouts of a man who was not in. There was only an old lady present, aged about eighty, and sho did not know tho man's whereabouts. The officer said, "I will very soon find out whether he is in or not," and,' pushing past the old woman, had ransacked tho man's correspondence. " After what has been said by Councillor Miller," said the Mayor, "I think I should stato why I acted as I did. First of all, the was purely political. It was in noywfse a sacred meeting. Certainly some of the so-called sacred concerts have not come up to my idea of a sacred concert, but in this case permission was asked to take up a collection by gentlemen receiving-£3OO a year, and personally I think there is ample time in the six days of the week to conduct political meetings without trenching on the- Sabbath. There is a. verjj large section of tho Christian coirS munity of this city, not particularly churchgoers, who totally disapprove of Sunday being taken up in this way, •and I do not remember a political meeting being held on Sunday even in tho heat of an election. As tho Military Service Bill has now passed tho Lower House no possible good could come of discussing it, and a great deal of harm might come. Then, again, jnot one of the speakers was a Christchurch representative. Councillor Miller: They were invited. Tho Mayor: I never heard that at all. At any rate. Ido not consider it is part of my duty to offer facilities to gentlemen who ought to go to the front and won't go, and who aro' spending their time in persuading others not to go. For that reason I refused to grant permission. Application was only made at 1 p.m. on Friday, and I had no opportunity of consulting the council. I acted on my own judgment, and I know I shall have thV support of the council. Tho motion was carried on the voices.