SUNDAY MEETINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19812, 2 December 1919, Page 4

SUNDAY MEETINGS.

ATTITUDE OF CITY COUNCIL, Sunday meetings formed the subject of a danse in the report of the ByLaws and Finance Committee which was tabled at the mooting of the City Council last evening. It was stated that recently applications for permission to hold political ami quasi-political meetings in flic various public places under the control of the council and licensed buildings on Sundays had in accordance, with the custom of the council been granted by the committee. In view of the frequency with which these meetings wort being held the committee asked for the council's instructions as to .whether permission should be granted for holding such meetings on Sundays alter the present election campaign was over. Councillor Flesher, in moving the adoption of the clause, said lie thought that the timo had arrived when the subject should be dealt witli. He would move that after December Jv) next, no permits should he granted for political or qnasi-political meetings to be held on .Sundays in licensed moldings or public places under the control of the council. He said that for a very long time past lie had had the conviction that such meetings should not lie held on Sundays. There should be some timo when all party feelings should be at rest. Councillor Langley: They're not at rest m the churches on Sundays. Council lor Flesher continued that if all permits acre refused there could be no complaining. They had to strain tins by-law to grant these permit'. Councillor Agar seeqnded the morion. Councillor Sullivan rose to a point of order, and asked if under the At uni-* eipal Corporations Act the council had any power io pass such a resolution in regard to the observance of the Saliba.ih. lie fore they went, into the matter hi' asked for a ruling. The -Mayor said Hint if the motion was passed then it became a question for tlm Law Courts to tost the council's power in the matter. Councillor Sullivan remarked that Hie council was really going too far in thus interfering with the rights of ihe people. It was making the council ridiculous. So iar as the workers were concerned they did their day's work and they were sometimes 100 tired at night to attend anything. These meetings did not interfere with church services, and there was no reason why the council should poke its nose in. Council .Jameson said the eonneil had quite enough to do without embarking on such subjects as the one under their notice. Councillor Armstrong thought there was altogether too much interference by the council with tho rights ot the people. Mas the council going to decide, in each and every instance as to what was political? There were political services held in various churches m tho city. Wore they going to prevent tho ministers of the tiospel preaching their particular politics? He did not think that the. eonneil or any oilier body in ?>cw Zealand had Hie rigid, to dictate to any hotly of people as to how I bey should spend their Sunday afternoon or evening. Councillor Langley said they had as many ilijferent opinions in the churches of this city as they could lind in any place. in Hie world. Councillor Mi'sher's motion was fossilised, anil stamped with the hallmark of the autocrat. Councillor Hunter said ho thought it would be wise for the cmnnidtce to hold the motion over, lie ici. oi oi.ijnlou that, it wU-dol-dc Uia.l UiomC

meetings should be hold and the people provided with a safety valve. They ought to exercise a little more commonsonse in these matters. Councillor Agar said he did not think the posjtion was clouded at nil if the. people concerned had to come before the council to get permission. They lived in an ago of wrangling nnd turmoil and if they could limit that to six days of a. week he thought they would Lie doing well. Councillor Flesher said they could not, slop people holding meetings in public reserves, but they could prevent them holding meetings in places under the control of the council. Interruptions from councillors here h'eld up Councillor Flosher's remarks and the Mayor asked for order. Councillor Flesh or: "Those are quite common tactics nowadays." If people wanted to use other public reserves, he continued, they would have to be content with the arrangements to ho found there. He maintained ft was a connoil business. Me had never attended * meeting on a Sunday night yet, pr-i----lubition or otherwise. The motion was lost by seven tc eight, the voting being:—' Ayes (7) JS'ocs (S). Bennland Herbert Andrews Sullivan Nicholls Hunter Agar Lmglcy M'Kellnr Armstrong Flc-her .In meson Williams Harper Thnekor