SUNDAY TRADING AND GAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 12

SUNDAY TRADING AND GAMES.

Sir.—T clo Tint find it possible to endorse tho views of "Ajax" 011 the question of Sunday trading, unless adequate safeguards against abuses arc provided. The law must be so altered that at least one and a-lialf days off per week are secured for those who would have to work on Sunday. That provision would make "Ajax's" reform feasible and also obviate those unfortunate comparisons drawn by overseas visitors between this country and those that have emerged from the prohibitions and inhibitions of the Victorian ora. But there are other glaring social anomalies in which we lag behind 'he more enlightened opinion of nine-tenths of the civilised world. Not only are citizens debarred from purchasing fruit, postcards, pies, papers, ice cream, smokes, etc., on Sundays, but they are also largely prevented from engaging in many sports or attending harmless amusements. All picture theatres (except, one under the patronage of the Newmarket Borough Council) aire closed on that day, and most of tho facilities for sport and healthy recreation on the land belonging to the people (so-called municipally-owned) are prohibited. I understand that councils, city and suburban, arc responsible for this retrograde state of affairs. Golf and other like games are played 011 golf links belonging to private clubs. Why, then, should the public be debarred from using their own grounds for such a purpose? There is undoubtedly a considerable majority who welcome decent relaxation 011 Sunday. Achilles.