LIMITED SUNDAY EVENTS ALLOWED

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 14

LIMITED SUNDAY EVENTS ALLOWED

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has relaxed its policy regarding Sunday sport to allow centres to stage decathlon, pentathlon and abandoned meetings on a Sunday in the future.

The relaxation, although not as sweeping as sought by Canterbury, was adopted at the association’s annual meeting last evening. The Canterbury delegate (Mr R. Lunn) said that it was time the N.Z.A.A.A. regularised competition on a Sunday. In the past, centres had been forced to hold meetings because of various circumstances, on a Sunday. Now, he said, the N.Z. A.A.A. should decide whether to forbid Sunday sport or not. Mr I. H. Boyd (Wellington) said that in the last two seasons Wellington had been forced to hold part of its championships on a Sunday.

Mr R. Cheater (Auckland) said he failed to see why there should be opposition to Sunday sport. Rugby, Rugby League, soccer and cricket held fixtures on a Sunday. “I don’t know why we oppose it. Are we more righteous than these other sports? I think it is time we fell into line," he added. The association's retiring president (Mr J. H. Drum-

mond) said that the association had to consider the religious views of the competitors and the officials. “Are we to penalise athletes who will not take part in Sunday competitions?" he asked . Mr L. Holmes (Northland) said that the association was now disregarding religious principles by holding meetings on a Saturday.