SUNDAY SPORT

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27679, 8 June 1955, Page 14

SUNDAY SPORT

DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL

TENNIS APPLICATION REFERRED- BACK

The playing of sport on Sundays was debated briefly by the City last Evening. Before the council was a recommendation from

the reserves committee that the United Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club should be allowed to play tennis on its courts in Hagley Park on Sundays, provided there was no play during church hours. An amendment was moved that play *be allowed from 1 pjn. to 6.30 pjn., but discussion ended when it was found that the club already played on Sunday afternoons, but wanted permission to play in the morning, afternoon and evening. The application was referred back to the committee. In its application, the club pointed out that golf was allowed on Hagley Park at any time on Sundays. Young people were resigning from the club because they could not get Sunday games. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.Pj said the club’s grounds were in a prominent position and he moved. an amendment to the committee’s recommendation that play be allowed between 1 pm. and 630 p.m. “As well as at Hagley we allow golf at Rawhiti, and it appears that there' is a law for the players of one sport and another for the players of others,” said Cr. L. G. Amos. “If we go too far on this we could find ourselves facing applications from football clubs and clubs of all types.’’ Cr. C. Baldwin: That would not do any harm. Cr. Amos then suggested that the council should allow tennis at the same time as golf was permitted. “Keen on Sunday Sport” “For some years I have been keen on Sunday sport,” said Cr. Baldwin. “If people wish to play sport on Sunday they will attend their church either first or later. If a majority of the people desires to play sport on Sunday, they should have it Whether it be tennis, golf, hockey, football or anything else, provided it does not interfere with church services, people should be allowed to play it. People should be allowed to decide for themselves. Organised or improvised sport is good for the health, good for the spirit and good for the mind.” Cr. G. Manning said the council had H* *i to'hurt the susceptibilities of proportion of the citizens, but idered there could be a comwithout turning Sunday into aental Sunday. . ennis club was not exposed to dthe public view as much as the golf ’course, said Cr. W. J. Cowles, and on > Sunday morning in Hagley Park dozens of footballers could be seen i hying to remedy the mistakes they.' inade on Saturday. “I don’t see any harm in it,” he added. ’ The Mayor said there were people Jwho wanted to enjoy the parks on and he would oppose any general use of parks for sports. 1 “If I had the right to reconsider the Jiours allowed to golfers. I would impose a condition on them that they ehould not play during church hours,” he said. There was no real in allowing the recommendation, Cr. M. B. Howard said. Churchgoers were not going to he interfered with at aIL It a sports ground was near a church and play interfered with services she would Oppose Sunday play but not otherwise. The Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) then brought to the notice of the Mayor the fact that the club already played on Sunday afternoons, and the Committee’s recommendation was referred back. I =========