GAMES ON SUNDAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19940, 26 October 1934, Page 8

GAMES ON SUNDAY

USE OF RESERVES GRANTED By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, October 25. A recommendation “that the by-law prohibiting the playing of games in any of the city parks or reserves on Sundays be amended to permit, with the written authority of the Council, playing on Sundays of approved games on public reserves laid out exclusively as playing areas” was submitted to the City Council by the Parks Committee and adopted on the casting vote of the Mayor after a long discussion. “A little elucidation of the legal position seems necessary before a vote is taken,” said the Mayor. “We have no right to attempt to legislate people into leaven; indeed, under the Municipal Corporations Act we are expressly forbidden to do so. It is stated that no by-law shall be valid if its provisions are based only on religious or moral grounds. lam definitely opposed to the playing of games on Sundays on reserves which are frequented by the general public. We have a few areas used exclusively for the playing of gamer and I am definitely of the opinion that if the present by-law were attacked in regard to these particular grounds, it would be held to be invalid. We can refuse permission for play on other areas, such as the domain, because of the possibility of interference with the general public using those areas.”