SUNDAY TENNIS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16612, 11 December 1919, Page 4

SUNDAY TENNIS.

IN SCHOOL GROUNDS. EDUCATION BOARD SAYS “NO!” A loiter was received by the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday from tho Otakeho Tennis Club, asking for permission to play tenuis on Sundays on the court which bad been laid down in tbo school grounds. It was explained that, being a country district, a number of members found it impossible to got away from work during tho week, if permission was granted tho club would make rules restricting the play to certain hours when no service was being hold in the church. The Chairman said be did not think the board should accede to tbo request.

Air. Eaves said the position of the Tennis Club was a peculiar one, inasmuch as tho court, which was of concrete with a coat of asphalt, had been erected and paid for by tho Tennis Chib, and unless the board gavo its consent to tho court being used on Sunday;; Several members who could not get away during the week would bo deprived from playing at all. .Mr. Grayling moved that the application bo declined ; Air. AVbitc seconded. Air. Eaves said bo could see no barm in granting tin; request, and ho moved as an amendment that tho Otakeho Tennis Club be informed that tbo board will not raise objection to tho tennis courts on tho school grounds being used on Sundays provided permission was obtained from the school committee; Air. Hoskiu seconded. Afr. Smith said this opened up a big question, and should bo very carefully considered by the board before, it camo to any decision. Air." Eaves -aid be did not think any exception would lie l iken by Otakeho residents if the board granted tho request- and if lhere was then tile club would discontinue Sunday play. Mr. Smith said bo had no objection to anyone playing tenuis nil a Sunday if they so tic A red. Hi- did not think it would do much harm, but they, as members of an education board, bad to be very careful in the lead they gave, and also in the example set before tbo children.

Air. Alnsters said bo was opposed to granting the permission asked for. He did not mind Sunday tennis, but ns chairman of a public hotly lie would not give permission for tennis to bo played on grounds they held in trust for the public. The principle was wrong, and should not be. supported by members of the board.

Afr. Trimble said that a. very high authority had said the Sabbath Day was made for man, and it seemed to him that people bad a perfect right to play tennis on a .Sunday if they so wished. They wore, not breaking any law or any rules of conduct, and they were not necessarily wicked in playing tenuis on Sundays. Mr. Eaves stressed the noint that this was the only tennis club in tho district.

Mr. AVhito spoke in favour of tbo jjiotion. On being qmt to the meeting tbo amendment Hint tbo application ho granted was lost on tbo casting v o to of the chairman. The ayes were Messrs. Trimble, Eaves, Lees and Heskin : ami the nnes .Messrs. Smith, Grayling, AV l i.t<» ami the chairman. 'Hu; original motion was carried on the casting vote of tbo chairman.