PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1942, Page 7

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS

RESTRICTIONS IN BRITAIN. 8.0.W. RUG;BY, March 12. Details of the new Government policy, regarding public entertainment, was given by the Home Secretary (Mr. Morrison), in the Commons, who said: “The Government’s wartime policy has been to permit them continue on a restricted basis, in the belief that within reason, popular entertainments act as a lubricant rather than a brake on the war machine. Limitations on attendance have been imposed and entertainments which attract large crowds, such as horse and dog racing, and football matches, have been mainly confined to days and times least likely to affect essential work. Special measures have also been taken to avoid additional burdens on the transport services, or delay of workers going to/ or from their place of duty. All forms of public entertainment have been subject to immediate cessation, should security circumstances require. Power to prohibit or restrict public entertainments has in the past been confined to imposing restrictions, where they were necessary, minimising the risk in consequence of war operations, but further appreciable restrictions have been obtained by agreement with the controlling bodies of the various entertainments concerned.”

Mr. Morrison expressed appreciation of these bodies’ helpful attitude, and added that the Government was taking additional powers to provide control of public entertainments, where needed, to avoid interference with the national effort. Horse racing meetings have already been cut to about 20 per cent, of the prewar figure, and it was proposed further to restrict it to a few courses, selected with a view to economy in the use of public transport. Greyhound racing would be restricted to one day a week for each track, and be permitted only on Saturdays and public holidays. No new tracks would be allowed to be put into operation. Professional boxing shows had already been reduced to about 10 per cent, of the pre-war figure, and the question of further, restrictions arose, mainly in respect of large spectacular events. Professional football had been largely confined to Saturdays, public holidays, and local early closing days. Local competitions had been formed for area groups of clubs, in order to avoid travelling. It was not proposed to apply any further restrictions at present. The same remark applies to theatres, cinemas and dancing. .. < There remains the question of large accumulations of cars at sports functions, which had undoubtedly been offensive to public feeling. The Petroleum Secretary made a statement which has an effective relationship to this aspect of the problem. These restrictions represent an appreciable reduction in the amount of public recreation. In exercise of these new powers, the Government will not impose more restrictions than the war requirements render expedient, but such requireinents must obviously be the first consideration, and there will be no hesitation to impose such further restrictions as may be needed in the interests of the war effort. On the other hand, there was no intention of imposing needless hindrances to recreation, or carrying restrictions so far that the total war necessarily becomes total misery.