SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 8

SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT

RATIONALIST ASSOCIATION MAGISTRATE IMPOSES A FINE (Per Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 19. The New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism was prosecuted before Mr McKean, 8.M., in the Magistrate’s Court on a charge of holding a public entertainment in the Majestic Theatre on Sunday, March 29, without having first obtained permission of the City Council. Mr Butler, who appeared for the Council, stated that for some considerable time defendants had conducted Sunday entertainments. Permission had never been applied for, although the association had forwarded courtesy notices to the town clerk each week indicating the nature of the programmes to be presented. Traffic Officer James Scot said he attended the Majestic Theatre on the evening in question. The programme •consisted of two motion pictures—a full length comedy and drama, a topical gazette, and a brief illustrated lecture on “The Marvels of Insect Life.” On the preceding day the programme was described in a newspaper advertisement as “Snappy and Witty,” A silver collection was taken up at the doors and a notice: “We expect no less than 6d,” was displayed. Throughout the programme, witness heard no mention made of Rationalism or its objects. The organising secretary of the Rationalists’ Association, Mr C. A. Rawson, said that nobody had ever been refused admission for not contributing to the association’s funds. In his opinion the lecture he delivered on insect life was quite in keeping with the principles of Rationalism Witness did not consider any part of the programme in question constituted an entertainment. The magistrate said he had not asked for permission to hold Sunday entertainments. A fine of £l5 and •costs was imposed. Security for costs on appeal was fixed at £lO 10s.