SUNDAY TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 39, 9 November 1917, Page 4

SUNDAY TENNIS

AT DAY'S BAT. Since the Wellington City Council acquired the freehold of the sports grounds at Williams Park (Pay's Bay) three years ago the tennis courts have been ilosed for play on Sunday. Previous to that the grounds were managed by the Welingtou Provincial lawn Tennis Association, and were free for play on the| Sabbath. The association has written to tho council nsking that Sunday play bo allowed during the season now opened, and tho Tea-, son for so doing is said' to be the num- ■ erous requests received from soldiers in camp and their friends. The concession would, tho association argues, tend to improve tho social well-being of the men in camp. They also pointed out that the courts were far removed fiom clfurcnes and other religions institutions, so that there.was no possibility of interfering with or causing: offence to churchgoers. This letter, which was before the Reserves Committee of the council yesterday afternoon, was followed up by a deputation from the executive of tho association, consisting of Messrs. 0. M. Ecan and M. F. Instone, who expressed the wishes of the assooiation, as outlined in tho letter, and combated the fears of some members of tho committee that the granting of permission to play at tho Bay on Sunday might bo -used as a lever to introduce Sunday play on tennis courts in the city. In th'afc respect they stated that the association was strongly opposed to Sunday ploy in the- city. They held that tennis was a'game apart from such sports as cricket, hockey, football, as it was a quiet game, confined to i a' sinall area.

In reply, Mr. George Frost (chairman) eaid that tho representations of tho deputation would receive careful con6idera< tion, nnd an answer wojild be forwarded In due course. .