To the Editor of the Nowri-Carsa Darty News.
Sm,—If anything were needed to-give point to your recent strictures upon the attitude assumed by the-Municipal Council with regard to the use of the Mortuary Chapel, it would surely be-found in the wording of the third Resblution which is to be put—before the Ratepayers on the 17th-instant. This -resolation will, come forward Into in the afternoon, and I do not suppose that anyone who should rise to support an amendment on the subject any length would meet with much sympathy, but it isto be hiped that an amendment be "tide in this resolution before itis cirried. 'The Council, ignoring an excellent opportunity for making a peaceful concession frum the intolerant attitude assuinted by themselves with very doubtful ptopriety;—ni formulate 'a Propdsal 'Which nin be' regirdéd us a practical admission "of the justice of "the claith "put forward far the non-séetiirian ive of the Morticiry Chapel. Bit the point to be'noted is' that, while making this "admission, "the resolution-is so worded as to-preclude the use of the until a rected for' the "spi 5 f his! 'Tealy thie isa polioy"of dog it manger" which unworthy 6f support By nien, 'Assuming even that ave "right in thidte "oint jireséntCliapel was' not intéhded'for dttiérs thin Christians, would "it "rust be ttiecpatt ofthe Ratep: throw it open, hither Eton to ktiép it closed, th the use of the non*OHristiain tu "until and after the: ¢smiplétion," of '*upon'the'completion ": of-they proposed new Chapel.
Tam, ete, entertained, and I should be glad to point en iF it lind 'THieAit all you sup-it colild ndt "have operated-me a Gar fitioh to infréduction' of tram-ito thuse'ncttetitits. The-principle ing Shre's Geiting" "may be jo domain of spect, and may likewise be commendable when applied'to-any of the"animportant-details that-mske'up lif: but: no'one in hie'sen would contend: tlnt those who believe them, or even raisiiy the question, -because [some tiwo.years ago $0 Ratepayers voted. {for the very "open" Resolution relied on their supporters, whilst 64 voted against it. Seeing that there-are now said to be. some 700 Ratepayers here it wauld be quite: competent to re-open the question even if, former-vote had been very much more definite than it was and had been carried large majority. The whole of the 144 Ratepayers who voted then (on both sides), night vote for it now and yet be in a hope-i lest minority. Besides, if the principle of: taking your beating" is a valid one, why has much public money been wasted in: a futile attempt to get the Court of Consuls. to grant a re-hearing of the Browett Foreshore Case? You surely forgot this prineiple when you wrote ahunt that case.
Twas present at the meeting in March 1898, and I certainly did not-understand that I should never have another opportunity-of voting against the introduction of Tramways. I do not see that the remarks of individual Ratepayers at that: Mosting expressed anything more than their individual views. The Resolution is the thing. Enough has been written already, think, to show that that does not commit the Community tramways revocably.
solution III, however, which principally wish to refer to. I think it exceedingly unfortunate that such a Resolution'should ever be proposed. We are here constituted into a body politic by virtue of our being foreigners and not-because we are, Christians, and any funds collected by authority of the Council are the -property—not of Christians or non-Ohristians—but of the whole Community. The Chapel at.present erected in the Bubbling Well Cemetery is ay much the property of our Japinese fellow-ratepayers us of any other members of the community. What right the Councit had to interdict its. uxe by them I am at a loss to disco The Resolution practically says that if another non-Christian interment is necessary before the.proposed new chapel is ready it must take place under the same disgrace~ ful conditions us the last. By disgraceful, 6f course, I mean disgraceful to those who slenied the mourners'a roof to: shelter them whilst they paid their last respects to their dead, séeutding to the torchings of their own religion and the dictates of their own consciences, This is intolerance with a vengeance.
Then who is going to decide what is and for 'a "Christitn Service? ere vite Wide diversities of opinion-about that, 'Kre thie 'Countil to be: the judges? dr'tho eid sexton"? How will they know til all is over "whit Kind of a service is to take place'? Alli a new Inspector bei ted f¥6ih' Homne' to scFutitiise'the -propatations Phe "Couineil ind the -Ratepayets had Bettor Het the question vérsly alone. Jis not necésinry to building "for funeral stir vices, as' the fact thet wel have dine without ono'for'so' many Deltovo'that the sh-oiled ednseénition dues. tide "sHféct the DuildiNiy one idea. And im thie ime way 'icy do riot beliave'that Building is desecrated by th" occasional #fsronMnee in it OF tites tht ate nontisttin, Ili "fiot, they believe'thit'there tne shich'thinys'ns holy places atta, holy been speisrned in then, 'These fom, 3 buildings, whatever 'céremoniee taxy have yana Word, rt dir now chapel is ive,' 'very Intye proportion -of the
fous "grounds it is nob red "for theta.
Phot a nei chapel "would be desirable 'nother grounds I fully admit. The pres-Git cttapel tis Yuite "Unsuitable for this invite. 'T wits unfortunately faneral this atituitin and was'
Gaited. ""Phe¥e are no: openings Excépt*hih overhead, where they admit no-air{but'let'in'the'burning rays of the sifterioon'éun. 'When thére'is no sunshine the bide must be gloomy in the extreme. If the leeting on Tuesday does'decide to build another chapel I trust the architects will take for his model the chapel in the Old' Céinétery which, whatever its faults, was dlwiys bright und airy. One wants planity' of fresh dir at a funeral.
"But the Resolution, if pissed at all, nglit'to'be amended by changing the word upon" into "until" "Less than thas would be grcssly'unjust, But I'hope the 'Resolution will be negatived or altered so as to throw the present chapel' open to the use of all members "f the Foreign Community, irrespective of nationality or creed."
Tam, ete..
Aurnep B. Rex.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.