The Five-Day Week: Its Effect On Sport

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 14

The Five-Day Week: Its Effect On Sport

TTANY people fondly hoped when the I’-L Government favoured a five-day working week- that it would usher in a golden era for those who indulge in outdoor pastimes. Visions of long week-ends in the sun for cricketers, tennis, swimming, rowing, bowling, and cyclists, were conjured up. Until yesterday there was nothing like a universal holiday on Saturday. Some branches of public servants, such as the Railway Department and the Post and Telegraph Department, enjoyed a five-day week! but many other departments of the Civil Service did not. Ihe samp applies to many industries, and until the five-day week is made universal there will not be much change in the conduct- of outdoor sports. So far cricket matches continue to commence at 2 p.m., and all sports are confined to Saturday afternoon. Inquiries made reveal that there has not so far been an increase in the number of golfers who take the links on Saturday mornings. As a matter of fact, fewer people are patronising the Municipal links at Berhampore since summer arrived, owing to the fact thqt the course is in a worse state now than it has been for some years. This season cows were taken oft the links and the fences removed from around the greens. This spring, however, 'the cows and the fences are back again, and the grass is so long that players, hdve difficulty in finding their ball even in the middle of the fairway at some of the holes. , , It has been said that the five-day week is responsible for this, as it has shortened the hours that the ground staff can work, so the five-day week is cursed rather than blessed by many golfers. Effect ,on Evening Sport.

Attention was first drawn to the effect endeavours to obtain a five-day working week had on week-day evening sport by Mr. W. Gilbert, president of the Wellington Bowling centre, in a speech at the opening of the Wellington Bowling Club s green. At the request of ‘ The Dominion,” Mr. Gilbert yesterday expanded the brief remarks he made there. “I think it will be a great pity, not only for bowlers, but for others as well, if the benefits and advantages of daylight

saving arc to be denied some people, owing to the introduction of the five-day week,” he said. “Many business houses and some Government offices are working later each afternoon from Monday to Friday in order to get the Saturday morning off. but the general Public Service from yesterday, is commencing work half an hour earlier in the mornings, and thus the benefits of daylight saving ar® preserved. Those who take part in such games and pastimes as bowls, tennis, swimming, golf, athletics, cricket, rowing, etc., find that the extra half-hour in the’ evenings is most beneficial. "Vs far as I am aware, none of the bowling clubs in the Wellington centre will be available for play on Saturday mornings. It: takes several hours to cut and roll a green, and clubs are not likely to expect greenkeepers to commence work at, say, 6 a.m. It appears, therefore. that bowlers will not get any Saturday morning play, but those who work later in the afternoons are losing at least half an hour’s play, fresh air, and sunshine each evening. Most of the club competitions are played in the evenings, and even without working later in the afternoons, bowlers often find it impossible to complete their games before dark, especially pairs matches. Of course, this is more noticeable in October. November, February and March, '.han _ in December and January. No doubt similar difficulties are met in other branches of sport. “It takes most people quite half an hour to get to their suburban, homes. Of course, the earlier one ceases work, the earlier one can get home, have a eup of tea, or even dinner, and go immediately to the green. Undoubtedly, this is a great boon to bowlers’ wives, who can be finished for the day much earlier than if their, husbands go to. the green first and come home late to dinner. “The matter should be easily adjusted. I think that the present Government leaders, when in opposition, were favourably disposed to the full hour of daylight saving, and it would be a simple matter to amend the Act accordingly at the first opportunity. Failing that, those affected could commence work earlier in the mornings, especially in the summer-time. I feel sure that bowlers would be pleased to have an hour's davlight saving or an earlier starting hour.”