SUNDAY BOWLING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1071, 4 March 1913, Page 3

SUNDAY BOWLING.

PROTESTING RESOLUTION THROWN OUT. LADY MEMBERS DISFRANCHISED. NOTICE OF MOTION PROHIBITING SUNDAY PLAY. For some time past several members of the local Bowling Club have been playing on the green on Sundays. There is nothing in. the rules governing the point, but a protest against Sunday play was made to the committee in the form of the following resolution proposed by Mr Alex. Speirs and seconded by Mr M. H. Walker

“That this committee views with grave alarm the action of a few members of this Club, who have taken upon themselves to play games of bowls and also to bring intoxicating liquor oc to the green, on Sunday. Your committee therefore request all members to, abstain from the above practice until such time as permission is given by the Club to do so. Further, that the above motion be posted upon the door of the. Club and also to each member so offending-’’

When the matter was brought before the committee it was unanimously decided, after a general discussion, to submit the resolution to a general meeting of members and the meeting was convened lor last night. The president, Mr Thos. Rimmer, occupied the chair and there were also present: Messrs G. Barber, A. D. Clemett, F. Easton, Fields, Green, Hennessy, Hornblow, Harvey, Hopper, Lumsden, Nye, Parkes, Petrie, Perreau. J. Ross, Speirs, Stiles, Witchell (secretary), Whibley and Mesdames Parkes and Nye and. Misses Speirs (2). The Chairman briefly, explained the object of the meeting and read the resolution. He hoped the matter would be discussed without any personal feeling. Personally, he was sorry that members bad indulged in Sunday play. He objected to it personally and he would not allow any of his family to indulge in the game on Sunday. The secretary read the rules of debate as set forth in the book of constitution. ;

Mr Harvey at this jflncture called the Chairman’s attention to the fact that there were several ladies present and asked for a ruling as to whether they were entitled to vote. Personally he did not think they were.

Mr Stencil also objected to their being allowed to vote. Mr Hornblow said at the annual meeting the ladies were allowed to vote on all matters submitted to the meeting. They paid their member’s fee and a precedent had been.established. If they had been allowed to vote at one meeting why raise the objection now ? Mr Clemett objected to the ladies having a vote. Their fee was ios 6d against two guineas for men. It they wanted a say in the Club’s affairs they should be made to pay the same fee as men. They were restricted to croquet. A little sparring here took place and Mr Witchell said the rules provided that members should consist of three classes, ordinary, life and country members, but no mention was made of ladies. Mr Hornblow moved and Mr Stiles seconded, that ladies be allowed to vote. Mr Stiles said he was somewhat surprised at the objection raised to the ladies recording their votes. In the past they had hot been disfranchised. in member’s fees had been granted to ladies in the" Tennis Club, but they had not .been disfranchised on this account.

Mr Stunell rose to a point of order and said they had nothing to do with the Tennis Club. The Chairman said Mr Stiles was in order.

Mr Speirs contended that if the ladies paid the fee fixed by the Club they were entitled to all the privileges. Some of them had purchased bowls and pjayfed that game as well as croquet. The secretary asked whether the ladies had the power to turn the male members off the green. (Laughter). He admitted the ladies worked very hard for the Club and they had been allowed to vote before “as a matter of courtesy,” but it was never intended that they should have a controlling interest in the Club. They had a committee to deal with' croquet matters. Mr Hornblow asked if that were so why did not the secretary object to their voting on all matters at the anhoal meeting. Mr Hennessy said his mind Was not clear as to the annual meeting but he added that having paid the fee fixed they were entitled to exercise their vote.

The motion that the ladies be allowed to vote was lost on a show of hands. Those in favour of the motion ‘ were: Messrs Barber, Hennessy, Stiles, Parkes, Hornblow, Perreau, Speirs, Ross and the Chairman; against: Messrs Hopper, Stunell, Whibley, Easton, Lumsden, Fields. Nye, Green, Harvey, Petrie, Clemett and Witchell.

After a few more preliminary exchanges, Mr Speirs spoke to the resolution. He said when the Club was formed there was a distinct understanding that there was to be no Sunday playing and that no intoxicating liquor was to be taken on the green. Such rules were necessary if the Club was to be conducted sucessfully. Sunday observance was at the very bottom of the British constitution and the fgpctity of the Sabbath was safe-

guarded throughout the Empire. The Club, as a public institution, should not tolerate Sunday playing. If it was a private green the thing would be diifernt, but for the Club to allow Sunday playing was a public scandal and a. i sflection on the town and would give outsiders a very bad opinion as to how our public institutions are conducted. He said Wellington and dubs in other _ centres prohibited Sunday playing. If Sunday playing were allowed drinking would go with it. It was playing down to a low state of morality and was a disgrace to Foxton. He had brought the resolution forward in order that members could show their disapproval and move an amendment to the rules to have it slopped. Mr Stiles, in the absence of Mr Walker, seconded the resolution. Mr Stunell at this stage asked that the voting on the motion be taken by ballot instead of by show of hands.

Mr Stiles said surely they were not ashamed to vote openly. Mr Stunell moved and Mr Harvey seconded, that the voting be taken by ballot and the resolution was carried by 10 votes to nine.

Mr Hornblow, speaking to the resolution, said that those who had indulged in Sunday play had sprung a surprise on the Club and had„ compromised members who objected to Sunday play and had acted without the consent of the Club. He stressed the difference between the acts of private individuals and those of-a constituted and responsible public institution. The ground was a public endowment vested in the people of Foxton, the majority pf whom had religious scruples and the Borough Council were the trustees. Had the Club mentioned that it was its intention to throw the green open on Sundays, when applying for a lease, the Council would not have granted it. He referred to the difficulties in respect to financing the Club, when being formed, and said a majority of those who had taken up debentures and provided the bank overdraft would not have done so had they known Sunday play was to be allowed. He suggested that if it was the intention of the Club to sanction Sunday play, then those who objected should be relieved of their financial obligations. The objectors were defending the principle of Sunday observance and were prepared to sacrifice the Club rather than principle. They were guarding Sunday for the sake of their children and children’s children. He referred to what was being done by the Christian Church on the Continet to restore to the people what materialism had taken from them. There was no excuse for Sunday play as most of those who indulged in the game had ample time during the week. If Foxton was a congested city of thousands, with the people ground down by hard task-masters ten hours a day, six days a week, th ; en there might be an excuse if nbt justification for Sunday relaxation. But New Zealand provided an eight-hour day and a compulsory half-holiday and allowed plenty of time for recreation..

Mr Harvey, with watch iu hand, informed the Chairman that the speaker had exceeded the time limit, but the Chairman said he had five minutes to go. Mr Hornblow concluded by stating that if the Club ruled in favour of Sunday play it would mean that a number of people would, be debarred from membership and others would withdraw.

Mr Stiles endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks. He said it was a question of policy- Was the question of Sunday play in the best interests of the Club’s future welfare. Speaking as one of the ex-Presidents and a founder and guarantor, he was opposed to it. When drawing up the rules he had suggested a clause prohibiting Sunday play, but it was stated that there was no likelihood of such a thing happening. It was unfortunate for the Club that such a rule had not been inserted. There was no excuse for Sunday play. Those members who indulged in Sunday play were men of leisure and had plenty of time on hand. .

Mr Stunell: I question that. Mr Stiles said the majority of them had a good deal of time on hand, and some were men of independent means. Surely they should consider the general welfare of the Club and study those who had religious convictions. He believed in the srnctity of the Sabbath, but the Club by its action proclaimed to the public that Sunday was set aside for bowling. They would next ask for picture shows to be opened. A voice : That’s a question of profit. Mr Stiles said it was only opening the door for another form of public amusement. Sunday play was casting a stigma on the Club and he hoped it would be abolished and that harmony would again exist in the Club,

_Mr Hennessy, ex-President, said although not a guarantor he had taken up debentures in the Club and looked for no return of the money. He was opposed to Sunday playing and he did not think those who were using the green on Sunday were acting fair to those who had backed the bill. He was prepared to sell his debentures to those who wished to play on Sunday, At this stage requests were made for those who were in favour of Sunday playing to state their case, but like Brer Rabbit “they lay low and said nuffin.” Mr Stunell said it was a waste of time because they had come with their minds made up how to vote. '

Mr Clemett said the statements of those who were opposed to Sunday playing were inconsistent with their private actions. He couldn’t see any difference between going for motor drives or galloping their horses on the beach on Sunday or bowling. Why didn’t they stop people Irom fishing and playing cricket at the beach on Sunday.

Mr Speirs said he had nothing to reply to. Those who were in favour of Sunday play had closed their mouths and were no doubt ashamed of their principles. Messrs Harvey and Stiles were appointed scrutineers and the result of the voting was ten for the resolution and eleven against.

The question of the legality of the ladies being allowed to vote on Club matters was ag?.i.i raised and it was finally decided that the matter be submitted to the Secretary of the Bowling Association for a ruling. Mr Hornblow gave notice of motion that the Club’s rules be, added to prohibiting Sunday play.

A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meeting.