SUNDAY CRICKET

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 69, 28 November 1949, Page 4

SUNDAY CRICKET

Sir,—Each club is entitled to its own opinion, therefore this letter is not intended to further the argument between United and Taneatua Cricket Clubs. However, I would like to reply to “Faith,” re questions I take some objection to. Firstly, I say that Sunday cricketers are, and can be a- churchgoing company. In Christchurch four years ago, my son (a Sunday cricketer) and myself followed four cricketers out of church and on to the cricket field. Knowing them, personally, I would say they added a certain dignity to the game, rather than disgrace to the church. “Faith” also lives in blissful ignorance, Sir, if he thinks broken homes don’t exist among church-going people. It is indeed a very, bitter fact that the church is often the very cause of broken homes. Certainly, a strong home life means a strong nation. It would be well to recognise this fact in more ways than one. However, truth is seldom welcomed so intolerance becomes one of our greatest sins; We New Zealanders are noted for our smugness, and we are fast becoming a nation of religious prigs; intolerent of all views, bar our own. What better way can New. Zealanders spend a Sunday than in healthy recreation There is nothing “unholy” in that, and it is nothing but stupid priggishness and nonsense to turn an innocent sport into a sin. There is nothing wicked in the average New Zealand youth and to cast a slur of this nature on them is neither Christian nor cricket and can only cause rebellion and bitterness. How many church-going critics think nothing of employing labour on Sundays to further their own ends? Literally speaking, keep the family whole, and I say the Sunday, Nation and Church will look aftj|| themselves; and we can t] out on the 1 c Y( It should b question of Sm' ■ so far as ject of an 3 To knowl^^^^^^^^H|^^mted Club nor. members have taKeil’ i-ai t in the newspaper correspondence on the subject. Editor.