SUNDAY SPORTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 14

SUNDAY SPORTS.

VEXED COAST QUESTION.

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD.

(SPZCLAL TO "THE P3355.")

GEEYMOUTH, November 26.

That the members of religious organisations and others opposed to Sunday sports have not abandoned their determination to seek their extinction has been apparent for some months. Discussions at the Presbyterian General Assembly at Palmerston Xorth on this somewhat vexed question had the effect of giving- the TV est Coasr a great deal of notoriety. Cobden appears to be the storm centre, and both the To'vn Board and Domain Board hav? urged xo exercise their power to suppress sport on the Sabbath, football in particular being objected to.

The attention of the former body was occupied this evening in dealing with fresh representations. There were present: Commissioners A. G. Gunn (chairman), D. T. Cochran, A. W. Brailsford, W. F. G. Pullen, .T. Walker, and C. Orams. C'r. H. R. Barrett was absent.

Consideration was given to a letter from the Rev. 0. R. Walkey, Anglican minister of'the Parish, asking the Board to take steps to prevent organised sport on Sunday. The writer stated in support of his request that lie was backed bv a considerable number, if not a decided majority, of the residents. The by-law should "not be evaded. He would prefer to put the matter before the Board on the higher ground of its corporate responsibility in the sight of God. Righteotis ness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people, which history had consistently proved to be true for the nation, to say nothing of the consequences hereafter to the individual thus led astray into treating the matter as if it applied to mere bodily recreation, as in the case of a horse turned out to grass. In these days the young people were lowering themselves to the standard of soulless animals in the mad rush for pleasure to the exclusion of the things that count. The Board's by-law was read. It required all sports organisations to obtain permission before playing on any of the reserves in the district.

Crs. Walker and Brailsford said the Domain Board, of which they were members, had- already had a division on the matter, and would sink or swim by what the Town Board decided.

Cr. Orams reviewed the previous discussions on the subject, and contended that every by-law should be administered.

Cr. Pullen said he did not think the police could step in. It was not very edifying to the district to have the Domain placed at the disposal of all and sundry who wished to make a disturbance on a Sunday. He did not intend to say much on the matter, but would support any move to ' administer - the by-laws, and would liavc more to say when additional applications were received. He moved that in future all sports bodies be required to obtain permission. The chairman seconded the resolution. He said he did not intend to sit on the rail. Cr. Walker said the "Gazette" notice appeared to place the Domain entirely in the hands of the Domain Board. He thought the latter body should resign, and the matter be made an issue at a fresh election. The chairman said if the two Boards were found to be at cross purposes the matter would have to be legally tested.

Cr. Brailsford said the miners would get no recreation at all if they did not play on a Sunday. Cr. "Walker: They have been playing here for the past eleven years. The members of the Domain Board do not consider they, were obliged to treat with the Town Board on the matter.

Finally the motion was withdrawn, and it was decided to arrange a conference of the two Boards to investigate the legal position. , Cr. Pullen: ITiey are pretty definite over the matter in Greymouth. Cr. Brailsford: Yes, they suppress football and allow cricket matches to be, played on Sunday. The chairman and Mr G. Gunn, of the Domain Board, were deputed to arrange the conference. Crs. Brailsford and "Walker, members of the Domain Board, said they would not attend.

Cr. Pullen, in dosing the discussion, said he "was a bowler, but lie had severed his connection with the Greymouth Bowling Club when it decided to allow bowls on Sunday.