SUNDAY TENNIS.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 November 1917, Page 2

SUNDAY TENNIS.

CONDEMNED BY THE MAYOR.

"Unfortunately," 6alid 'ihe Mayor at last night's meeting of the Borough Council, "I seem to have got at loggerheads with the Tennis Club on the subject of Sunday play. It is my eon. viction that is an unproper thing to do at the present time and shows a lack of realisation of the serious issues af; stake in the great struggle in W-iiich we aire engaged. The question of what is conventional or proper on 'she Sabbath is outside the discussion at present, but the l whole matter will come before the Council at its next meeting when it sits as a Domain Board which has jurisdiction over t!h® ground upon which tennis is played." The Mayor said he had seen the secretary of the Club and had painted out that i: was a very great pity to have any controversy over '':his matter at such a time, as this and. he (the Mayor) had no desire for it. He had' suggested that it would be a good plan to call the committee of the club together and' give an opportunity of discussing the matter fully with him, and lie had urged that it would be a graceful act on the part op the tennis club not to press the matter at present. "I have received lrf> lerf, "continued the Mayor," from influential people in the town commending the attitude I have taken up, and I trust that when I bring i); before you at the proper time I will (have your support. There is, of course, the old arguments about the obfiervance of the Sabbath, hut at the present time there is something addled' to that. We are at a time of national crisis, but the majority of people—more particularly the yonng people, don't seem <U> realise that. It seems to me that this is no time to add to our pleasures, but rather to curtail them. In a greali number of homes throughout the Dominion there is mourning and sorrow for those they will never see again, and we say we sympathise with them and admire tlheir sacrifice, but we do in our public life to show our sincerity. Perhapj? is because we are in an an out-of-the-way comer of the world that we did not realise as we ought to do the serious issues that are being fought out, and it may be that many on account of 'their youth—perhaps happily enough—do not realise it. But T think that is no reason why we: should not endeavour to bring it bome to

them." Or. Lancaster: Is the matter before the Council for discussion. The M;iyor: No, ib will come before you at the meeting of the Domain Boardi.

It is understood that a letter of pro. {jest has been forwardled to the Council by the combined Churches of Levin against Sunday play on the municipal 'tennis courts.