SUNDAY PLEASURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 4

SUNDAY PLEASURE

CAMPAIGN IN SYDNEY THEATRES FOR TROOPS URGED (Air Mail) SYDNEY. Apl. 15. Sydney is the centre of a violent campaign to enliven Sundays in Australian cities for American and Australian trooos on week-end leave. The Statss administer the Sunday Observance Acts, which prohibit the opening of theatres and the playing of organised games. The New South Wales Chief Secretary, Mr J. M. Baddeley, has set up a committee to arrange entertainment for the troops, but he will not amend the law permitting picture theatres to open. A .strong newspaper campaign favouring amendment of the law is widely supported by many sections of the public. American and Australian military authorities are among those who want brighter Sundays.

Demand by Americans

The chief United States Army chaplain (Major J. E. Kinney) hinted that the United States Army might establish its own kinema circuit to provide Sunday films for its troops, unless the Australian authorities provided Sunday entertainments. "I think it will promote efficiency among troops if they can have the normal life they know in the United States." he said. "There the movies are open on Sundays, with the approval of nearly all religious bodies in practically every town and city. The boys are going to find some place to spend their money and leisui'e time. It is a case of either wholesome recreation or slygrog shops. I think the soldier should be allowed to take a lady friend to Sunday shows." An Australian military officer said: "If hostilities begin in Australia we shall forget all about Sunday being a day of rest and quiet. What wowsers and other righteous-thinking people forget is that there is no Sunday in the army; we fight and work seven days a week. And because of that we work our leave passes on a roster system seven days a week. It is unfair to the man off on Sunday to deprive him of the privileges his cobber enjoys earlier in the week. In any case, something will have to be done for battle-weary soldiers who will flock to the cities at week-ends. If the authorities stand in the way, then the men will force the issue and demand amusement, and plenty of it." Bored on Sunday Leave

American and Australian soldiers questioned in the street said they were always bored on Sunday leave. Those without relatives or friends had nothing to do but stand at street corners, join a two-up school in a park until chased out by police, or go to the zoo. The zoo was fine, they said, but only for one visit. The greatest opposition to a brighter Sunday comes from the churches, but many clergymen have expressed personal views in favour of opening picture theatres after church hours. The Theatrical Employees' Union is against opening theatres, but purely because its members do not want to work on Sundays. The Lord Mayor of Sydney (Alderman S. S. Crick) has arranged a series of concerts at the Town Hall for Allied troops, starting next Sunday. Concerts, however, are unlikely to cater for the tastes of all the men.