FUN FAIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 36, 22 November 1950, Page 5

FUN FAIR

FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN CONTROVERSY GROWING (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.). (Rec. 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, Nov, 21. The growing controversy in the House of Commons and the press, and among churchmen over whether the Festival of Britain fun fair at Battersea Park should be open on Sundays has been lightened by an analysis of penalties awaiting the sponsor of the festival, Mr Herbert Morrison and the Director-General, Mr Gerald Barry, if a common informer was able to summons both under any of three Acte governing the observance of Sunday in Britain.

In 1625 Parliament was legislating against “disorderlie.sort of people who frequent bear-baiting, bull-baiting enterludes, comman playes and other unlawful exercises.” But the penalty for a breach of such legislation was only 3s 4d. The next Act was paused in 1677 and under it Mr Morrison and Mr Barry could have been “set in etocks for the space of two hours” — a possibility of which London cartoonists have taken full advantage. But the law which most concerns the festival is the one of 1780 which condemns any place to which there is admission on Sunday by ticket as “a disorderly house.” Under this Act, “because of many subtle and crafty contrivances of persons keeping such houses,” to conceal their ownership, the general public ie asked to inform against anyone who “appears, acts or behaves as master or management.” The reward to an informer under the Act is £SO sterling.

The second reading of the Festival of Britain Bill takes place in the House of Commons this week. The divergence of opinion in the House on Sunday opening cute, across party loyalties, and Parliamentary correspondents eay the result of a free vote on the second reading is by no means certain to favour the Government. Mr MOrrison will move that all festival exhibitions the Battersea Park amusement are£i, be open after 12.30 on Sundays.

Churches’ representatives do not object to the festival opening on Sundays, but oppose the Sunday opening of the amusement area.

Opposition Mounting

House of Commons opposition to Sunday opening of any part of the festival has been mounting following letters of protest from many public organisations, and two groups of Conservative back-benchers tabled motions for rejection of the Bill. The latest comments come from the Dean of Westminster, Dr. Don, who is chairman of the festival’s inter-denom-inational advisory committee, and from the president of the World’s Evangelical Alliance, Lieutenant-Gene-ral; Sir Arthur Smith. Addressing a meeting of clergy, Dr. Don said: “I have been informed that there is a possibility that the whole Bill for Sunday opening may be thrown out by the Commons. What Mr Morrison would do then I do not know. It would upset all life financial calculations.” General Smith, in a letter to Mr Attlee, said the possibility, of Sunday opening of the festival to avoid financial loss was “selling our character and moral standards. It is unworthy of Christian principles on which the greatness of the Commonwealth ie built.”