AN OLD CONTROVERSY

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1948, Page 4

AN OLD CONTROVERSY

Sunday Sport On Council Property Discussed The Sunday sport issue was again ventilated at a meeting of the Levin Borough Council this week, when it was • mentioned during a discussion on the use of cricket pitches that a game had been played on the Levin Park Domain on Sunday. "Who gave them permission?" asked the Mayor, Mr, H. B. Burde- - kin", r °The game was purely a friendly v one, principally an outing . for the \ Palmerston North and local teams, said Cr. R. A. Frederikson. "Yes, but what could we say if the same thing happened in the rugby season," said Mr. Burdekin. 4 He added that permission had bten refused rugby . players to .stage a game on the domain on a /Sunday as a trial to' select a Railways team. "We have the 1'esponsibility as guardians of public morals. Some people" don't approve of sport on Sundays." I- Cr. C. Sherwood: I have- not 'heard any complaints.

Mr. Burdekin: We have to be consistent. .We said we were against competitive sport being played on counpil property ?on a Sunday. 1 ^ ■ Cr. Sherwood: There have been cricket games on the Weraroa ^Reserve on a Sunday for as long as I remember. Cr. D. J. Gardiner: They've got a 40-hour week. Why should they play competitive sport on a Sunday,? Cr. F. D. Chainey: The soft condition of the grounds was the ' reason why rugby was stopped. If you are going to be consistent^ you 'will have to stop them playing on the Weraroa 'Reserve. Cr. Gardiner: We've got to keep the cricket pitches in order. The position there is the same as for the rugby. • Mr. Burdekin: Are these games . played under the control of the Horowhenua Cricket - Association? Cr. Chainey: Yes, they must be. During further discussion it was stated that the cricketers normally played friendly games on the Weraroa Reserve, but as this was impossible this season they had trasferred to the domain without first sscuring the council's permission. ■Cr. Frederikson said that he had been under the impression that, providing the game-did not offend, ■ there was no objection. The cricketers had been very quiet and but -for- the presence- of- a few cars Outside the grounds he would not have known a game was in pror . gress. "It's not like football, Where' people ard up and down. the sidelirie hollering' for their tearri." If friendly cricket games were barred, then the council should stop tennis, he added. The Mayor: That is leased ground. Cr. Frederikson: But it's on the domain whether it's ieased or other wise. • After further discussion it was decided that 'the Horowhenua Cricket' Association be advised that the game had been played on the domain without prior notice being given the council. and that applic'ations for the use of the -council's grounds on Sundays had to be made in future.