SUNDAY GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1924, Page 8

SUNDAY GAMES

DISALLOWED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS A'LONELY VOICE OF\ PROTEST.' A lonely voice of protest was raised by Mr. A. J. White at. to-day's meeting of the Education Board against the action of the board in deciding that'no games should be allowed on school grounds on Sundays. , Mr. White moved that the bylaw covering the v decision should be rescinded. Mr. White said that the board should not dictate. to the committees, which strongly objected to being treated as a lot of children. While it might not be reasonable to play tennis in one area, it might be said that in another area Sunday was tho only opportunity young people had to play. Mr. C. I. Harkness seconded the motion, pro forma, but said that'he was not in sympathy with the proposal. The board owned the schools, and was responsible for what happened on s the grounds. Sunday, play gave offence to a number of people, and should not be countenanced by the board. The chairman of the board (Mr. T. Forsyth) expressed surprise that a mm.- . ister of tho church had been in favour of the attitude taken up by the . school committees. He, personally, was very much against the playing- of tennis in the school grounds on Sunday, Mvhich they had rightly come to regard as a , day of rest. The board was quite within its right in dictating to committees on the question. The opinion was expressed by Mr G T. London that Mr. White would have had a much stronger case to present if he could have told them that committees, generally, were in favour of the proposition. People living near schools were disturbed all the week by the playin°- of children, and, surely, they were entitled i to some rest on the Sabbath. If they I did not get it, they would begin to think that houses near schools were very" undesirable places in which to live. Some regard should be shown for. the feelings of the people. In reply,-Mr. AVhite said that he was .not greatly concerned with the religious .aspect, of the matter,, and he dicf not think, they should take that into .consideration.m any shape or form. In regard to JUr. Forsyth's reference to the reverend gentleman .who supported the proposal, he was not out to defend him' but.-would like to point out that he was . probably actuated by the same motives as himself—a desire to see the committees allowed to decide these matters'for themselves. He did not think that many of tho committees would allow the playing of tennis, but because one" committee did allow.it he did not see why restrictions • should he placed on all the 'committees. There should'be. the minimum of interference with the liberties of the committees. Mr. White was the. only member to support his motion.