The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 4TH., 1913. SUNDAY BOWLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1071, 4 March 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, March 4TH., 1913. SUNDAY BOWLS.

There is a flutter in the Bowling Club dove cot in respect to Sunday play on the green. A meeting was held last night, reported fully elsewhere, to discuss a resolution submitted to the committee protesting against the green being used on the day mentioned,, and preventing alcoholic liquor being taken on the green. The committee felt that it was a matter which should be adjudicated upon by the club, as there was no rule governing the matter. The meeting, by a majority ot one, threw out the resolution, and notice of motion was given to add to the rules that Sunday play be prohibited, so that the vexed question has yet to be definitely settled. ’Tis a thousand pities that innovation should be made involving a principle, the violation of which

meansthe withdrawal of a number of estimable men who have taken a keen interest in the Club’s welfare since its inception* We do not for one moment contend that those members who play on Sunday commit a sin—as private citizens they may be engaged in something far worse —but that is not the point. The Club, as. a public institution, together with all public controlling bodies, whether social, economic or political, are deeply concerned in maintaining and upholding Sunday observance. Immediately they break away from this point, the people’s liberty—a word which is looked upon by many thoughtless people as a mere platitude—is infringed upon. The club must not approach this question from a selfish point of view, but rather from a broad national aspect. It is such small breaches, if allowed, that culminate in national disaster. We are pleased that last night’s discussion was conducted free from personal reflections. We hope when the matter comes up for final settlement, the same spirit will be evinced, and that, once settled, the club will fulfil all the functions on the social side of this drab life that its inception sought to accomplish.

The lady members who attended last night’s meeting received something in the nature of a set-back by a majority ruling that they had no voice in the administrative affairs of the Club, and this in face of the fact that they exercised the rights and privileges at the annual meeting on the insistence of certain gentlemen who now deny them that, right. Surely the ladies, by their untiring efforts on behalf of the Club, and in the providing of afternoon tea, more than make up for the difference in fees, and should entitle them, if they so desire, to have a voice in the affairs of the Club. The success of the Club depends to a large extent at present on the hearty co-operation of the ladies, and we hope they will not be deprived of equal privileges.