FORCES FROM OVERSEAS

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 4

FORCES FROM OVERSEAS

QUESTION OF SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 30. A statement issued by the Welling- ■ ton Inter-Church Council on Public Affairs says: “The churches warmly join in welcoming the officers and men who have come to us from overseas and will do their utmost to co-operate in providing hospitality for those on leave. With regard to entertainment facilities on Sundays, courtesy demands that we should do all we can to enable our visitors to follow the way of life to which they are accustomed. At the same time it must be conceded that courtesy demands that they should allow us to follow the way of life to which we are accustomed. There should, therefore, be no call for a sudden alteration in our practice of Sunday observance so far as our own citizens are concerned. “The council is of the opinion that without commercializing them or making them open to the public, entertainment facilities for men of the forces, I with the exception of public dances, I could and should be provided on SunI days. It therefore suggests that to meet i the wishes of visitors from overseas, provision might be made for the opening of picture theatres and the organizing of suitable concerts. Such could > be arranged outside the regular hours I of church worship. Admission could be limited to members of the forces and, I say, two friends. The council is also of the opinion that the public play areas should be made available on Sunday afternoons for the use of visitors. The council calls on the churches to do their utmost to ensure that as many men as possible find a friendly welcome into the homes of our people. It has been proved that such contacts are of inestimable worth in improving relationships between the nations.