SUNDAY TENNIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 2

SUNDAY TENNIS.

Sir,—The refusal of the Ashburton Borough Council to permit Sunday play ou tenuis courts in the Domain has caused surprise in the town and has called forth considerable criticism. The majority of the inhabitants of the Borough realise that the town has a duty to members of the Armed Forces and workers engaged on essential production, and many of them seem concerned that the town’s reputation for hospitality should be lowered by this question of Sunday tennis. The clubs' which supported the recommendations of the Army and Air Force only requested permission for play between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sundays. It :s hardly necessary to point out that this is a time which would not coincide with any major religious and devotional services, and in the case of members of the Forces church parades are an accepted part ipf Army life. Similarly, the demands being made on the civilian population fall most heavily on the youth, and none of the councillors is engaged on essential work for such long hours as the younger members of the community. These young people find their former leisure time being increasingly encroached t n by additional overtime and war activities such as Home Guard, W.W.S.A., and other organisations. Finding Sunday as almost their sole opportunity of recreation, their standpoint is easily understood when they also request the privilege of spending their limited free time in a way that chn at least be claimed to be profitable. Much is heard about a proposed new social order, but this would be a failure before it. was launched if the youth of the nation was not catered for in the proposals. • However, in addition ta allowing the dess mature people a chance to benefit from our present social order, Sunday tennis would. prove a valuable way of maintaining morale, which is more important to-day than ever before in the history of the Empire. WAR CONDITIONS. .

[The above letter has been curtailed as it did not conform to the limitation imposed by war conditions. —Ed. Gdn ]