SUNDAY TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 11

SUNDAY TENNIS.

AVONSIDE CLUB APPROVES. FINAL DECISION. Thcro was a decidedly expectant atmosphere preceding the special general meeting of the Avonside Tenuis Club last evening. Tho matter for which the meeting was called was to consider a motion to bo proposed by Mr G. L. Berry and seconded by Mr W. Sherris: That the words 1 from Monday to Saturday (inclusive) in each week * be inserted in Rule 2, after the words 4 Lawn Tennis.’ ” This meant tho debarring of. Sunday tennis. The president, Mr F. J. Murray, presided over an attendance of 103 members or over half the membership of the club. In proposing the motion. Air G. L. Berry said that the matter of Sunday tennis was sprung on them at the last meeting. The chairman had ruled that there was nothing in the rules to prevent tennis on Sunday, but committees in the past had considered that the prohibition was understood. Personally he was not opposed to tennis or any other recreation on Sunday, but recreation on tho Sabbath should be conducted quietly and not interfere with people holding other ideas. The reason for bringing forward the motion was really to have a representative gathering of the, club and to obtain an idea of the feeling on the matter. The Avonside courts were too exposed to the public view. Other clubs in other places did not have this disadvantage, and were net interfering in any way with the feelings of others. If this club instituted Sunday play, it would bo followed by other clubs, and possibly would lead 10 an extension of Sunday sport. The seconder, Mr YT. Sherris, said he considered tho move a most retrograde one, there being strong public feeling against Sunday sport. Other local clubs had bad protests from neighbours against unauthorised games being played on Sundays. He was actuated by the highest motives, and desired that the club would hold its very high position. There was nothing in tho rules, because there was not at any time any contemplation of Sunday tennis. There was no need for Sunday tennis; in the week days there were short hours of labour, and also there were many holidays. Mr Sherris said he objected also on principle. Part of the British character was the respect paid to the good old Book, which taught to remember and keep holy the Sabbath day. At tho present there was a wild pursuit of pleasure at the expense of the feelings of others, and if the seventh day was spent in thought and reflection, it would be better for all. Tho example which would be set to tho generation now growing up was also to ho deplored. In tho comparison between private and public courts, private individuals could do as they iikod on their own property, but the club’s courts were more or less public, and as tho club embraced all creeds and conditions of thought, the introduction of Sunday tennis would no doubt cause a split in the club. Mr Sherris quoted ' the case of the Australian Tennis Association in prohibiting the game in America, proposed to be played on Sunday by the Australian Davis Gup team, and eulogised the fearless spirit of the governing body m the Commonwealth. Mr J. G. Lord said that, while not against Sunday tennis, he was against the playing of the game on Avonside or any other of the town courts. In deference to the people living in close proximity t-o the courts, it was not at all desirable. From experience in the othei* centres the only places where : Sunday games were played were in j obscure places or outlying districts, or at the seaside. Mr W. Lockwood said that so far the impression he had received from previous speakers was that Sunday tennis was all right if played furtively. If the fortunate possessor of a motor-car, one could go and play at half a dozen places on Sunday, but it not, one had to go without a game. Furthermore, should the people be offended by the sight of members playing tennis at Avonside on Sunday? No one need be ashamed of playing tennis, and if the game was played it should be. played openly. The % objections were not logical. If sacrifices had to be made, why not by those of the objectors to Sunday tennis who were afraid of the mythical Mrs Grundy? The fact that it was not played in the past denoted I nothing—ideas had changed, and present members wanted tennis. Church- ! goers could play before and after church, and there should not be compulsory exclusion from the courts: No labour was necessitated by Sunday tennis, as would be the case in some other sports. Mr F.< Cowper supported the previous speaker. He said that Mr Lockwood had struck the keynote when he deplored the hidden games. At present it seemed that the fortunate ones could play on Sunday and the less fortunate could not. Tt was certain that Sunday tennis would eventually come. Mr \V. Dean supported the motion. He said he was from the Old Country, and deplored the drift in New Zealand to the Continental idea. Work on a Sunday would not be at all palatable, but by the present trend of things it would not be unreasonable. Mr Dean recalled pleasant recollections of the Avonside club, and said that the innovation would cause a big upset. “ The better the day the better the deed,” was the keynote of Mr A. Donaldson’s remarks. lio proceeded to criticise the remarks of previous speakers. He quoted the recent action _ of tlie London County Council in throwing open the parks for games on Sunday, and said that 700 courts were in use in the metropolitan area on that day. With regard to the Davis Cup 1 team, although the Australian association had prohibited the match, it had not sought to prohibit practice on Sundays. Mr Donaldson ridiculed Mr Dean’s remarks, stating that that speaker lived at New Brighton, one of I the most popular places ol‘ pleasure on [ Sundays. Mr Donaldson questioned the soundness of Mr Berry’s ideas in that he favoured tennis on Sunday, but not at Avonside, a most illogical attitude to take up. He quoted the West Coast, where many games of all branches of sport were organised on Sunday, and had been proved a huge success. In conclusion, he said that he hoped that the club would continue to cater for all with clean sport, and in the best interests of all. The chairman asked that one of the ladies should give their views, seeing that there was a very large proportion of ladies in the club, but the invitation was not accepted. Mr L. Smith discussed the attitude of the clergy and said that at a recent large conference in Manchester in England there was a decided expression of approval of healthy Sunday recreation. When other countries and older I countries kept pace with the general j progress of affairs and approved of Sun- | day sport, it behoved New Zealand to follow their example. ilv J. Willis declared himself against

the motion and further stated that the opponents of Sunday tennis were most illogical. He was strongly in favour of individual recreation, but against organised effort. Continuing, he said he was very much against the ir> troduction of the Continental Sunday. He described the opponent of Sunday re.creation as the .narrowI minded person who would not travel on trams or trains on Sundays, but who would read Monday’s newspaper which actually entailed a very great i deal of Sunday work. Mr Willis stated that he had waited to hear of some really strong argument against the introduction of Sunday tennis, but ks had waited in vain. If the Avonside Tennis Club decided on Sunday tennis, other clubs would follow suit: anyway the innovation would come. In regard to the neighbours, there had been no complaint or prospect of complaint. As regards the objection on the grounds of offending the susceptibilities of religious people, personally he could not see the strength of that argument. A prominent clergyman had said that the propriety of Sunday recreation was a matter for the conscience of the individual concerned to decide. The chairman said that the matter had been brewing for some time, and at the last annual meeting, twelve voted against and thirt3 r -three for Sunday tennis. The committee had no right to dictate and it war. the duty of the committee to carry out the wishes of the club members. Personally Mr Murray said that he considered that Sunday tennis could do no harm. He went to church and vet played on Sunday if he desired. He expressed the opinion that it made no bad impression or set no bad example. An inspection last Sundaj' showed that there were few passers-by, the greater amount of traffic having been on the river, all the boat-sheds having been open. He discussed the case of the golf courses which were visible to the public and thronged on Sundays. He considered that the introduction of Sunday tennis would be a progressive movement, and he was all for the advancement of the Avonside Tennis Club. For the general benefit of the members, many of whom were working people, he hoped the game would be played on Sundays. The neighbours had been approached and without exception they had not raised any objection. A secret ballot was then taken, the

tied that the majority were in favour of the courts being open for play on Sundays.

voting being: — For the motion . 35 Against . 69 Informal 1 Total . 105 The members of the club thus sigr