The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1914. THE TERRITORIALS-AND SUNDAY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 May 1914, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1914. THE TERRITORIALS-AND SUNDAY FOOTBALL.

Certain divines in Wellington and Palmerston have been exercised lately over some happenings at Takapau. Willi reasonable grounds, in some respects; in nlhcr respects, most unreasonably. Objection was made against the home return of Wellington territorials being accompanied bv bi •ass band music and a march through the city streets lo the drillshed at Mount Cook. Surely this was straining an objection. The bad language at the football match was regrettable, but the fact that it was played on Sunday could have been objected to with better justification for the objecfion had the game been played in Wellington or Pnlmerston on a public ground and for purposes of moneymaking. But as a relaxation for young fellows pent-up in wot quarters, and without other spare time in which to play, a football match on Sunday may prove as meritorious as a church parade in the wet. Such an objection as that made against the football by well-known Ministers of the Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church are regrettable; indicating as they do an inability to size up accurately the conditions that obtain. Besides, who is to decide the degree of right orwrong in this regard? Play is not work: football is "no manner of work." How, then, comes the offence. Did not nn eminent Scottish theologian play bowls at Geneva on Sunday without detriment, to his own religious principles? Perhaps he abstained from playing bowls when at home, in deference to the objections of his neighbours. Well, there are non-fheolosrical bowlers m Levin who abstain similarly: thev see no harm in ploying a game on Sunday, but respect their neighbours' prejudices. Tn the Geneva and Levin happenings we see a close analogy to the ease of the territorial footballers. When, at home, decency might require of them an abstention from pursuing sport in a public place: but in Takapau they were at home and least one of their ministerial critics was the visitor, and therefore disentitled to be the arbiter of practice. By carping at the playing of a game on Sunday he reduced the degree of weight that otherwise might attach to his criticisms of the general conduct of the camp.