SUNDAY SPORT

Evening Post, Issue 77, 31 March 1936, Page 16

SUNDAY SPORT

USE OF MAIDSTONE PARK

NO ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Whether Association football should be allowed at Maidstone Park on Sundays was a matter discussed at the meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council last evening. The matter came up when the park superintendent (Mr. H. W. Dalton) reported that several Wellington Association football clubs had applied for permission to play matches on Sundays. He asked for the direction of the council.

"They have not got a hope of getting permission," commented the chairman of the reserves committee (Councillor F. P. Keys).

""What is the difference between cricket on Sundays at Maidstone Park and Association football?" asked Councillor J. Purvis.

Councillor J. S. Baskett expressed the opinion that Association footballers would make too much noise.

The Mayor (Mr. A. J. McCurdy) said that the'only way to see whether too much noise was made was to try Sunday football out It would bring people to the town. He moved that permission be granted from Sunday to Sunday and that the superintendent of the park report any objectionable happening. - The motion was seconded by Councillor A. Sutherland. ; Councillor W. Greig opposed the motion. There was a big difference between Sunday cricket and football, he said. He did not mind admitting that he had watched cricket on Sundays, but he objected to football. . Councillor G. H. Guthrie expressed ■the opinion that if the council allowed football on Sundays it would incur the displeasure of citizens other than the Church people.

Councillor J. S. Baskett again maintained that a lot of people objected to noise on Sundays. ; Councillor Keys said that if the council allowed football on Sundays it would be going,against the'wishes of the majority of ratepayers. : Councillor A. Howell said that to his way of thinking there was no difference between cricket and football on Sundays. *He did. not think religion came into the matter. As many people wanted, to play games on Sunday as went to-church. '

I Councillor J.;Blewman stated that he Could see no harm in allowing football to be played at Maidstone ■ Park on Sundays. The Mayor's motion to allow Sunday football was defeated by five votes to four. Those who voted against it were Councillors Purvis, Keys, Baskett, Greig, and Guthrie, and those in favour were the Mayor and Councillors Howell, Sutherland, and Blewman.