ON THE GREEN.

Shannon News, 25 June 1926, Page 4

ON THE GREEN.

FOXTON DISCUSSES SUNDAY PLAY

At Thursday's annual meeting of the Foxton Bowling Club, the Rev. W. H. Walton (retiring president) moved that, in accordance with the wishes of the New Zealand Government and the Returned Soldiers of this country, the Foxton Bowling Club prohibits all play oil the green on Anzac Day and that no visitors from outside clubs be invited on Sundays. In support of his motion, he said that the Club should !know where it stood in respect to ffie above. Anzac Day should be regarded as a sacred day and all other greens Were closed on that day out of respect ) to the memory of those who had lost sons in the Great War. He attributed the reason for the indifference in play at the local green to the fact that a number of members of the club did not approve of Sunday play. They should act according to their conscience; some people hadn 'c any. There were very few clubs in existence who invited outsiders to their greens on Sundays. Those members who did not play on Sunday were pushed out and the green was being run by the experts. Mr. Bryant considered that a quiet game of bowls on Sunday did no harm at all. He would support the motion however. Mr. Ban- said that 12 or 13 years ago the question of Sunday play had been a bone of contention. The matter had been thrashed out then' and had had the desired effect. It had now cropped up again, however, and assumed larger proportions. Personally he did not favour Sunday play. Mr. Woods said he was of the same opinion as Mr. Bryant. Mr. Winstanley said he was one of the culprits who haa" played bowls on Anzac Day. He did not consider there was any harm in it. He had lost a brother during the war and had paid his respects to him by atteuding the Anzac Service and as an old soldier, h'e- felt that the military idea was the i correct one—when they laid a comrade to rest, they played all the martial airs and invigorating music they could on returning home, simply because they knew that they had placed him at rest and away from all worldly troubles. He supported Sunday play and would vote against the motion. Mr. Christie said that there was no harm in Sunday play. In one portion of America statistics showed that SOOO people patronised the church on Sunday while 80,000 attended sports of , various kinds. The churches would alt be closed up long before sport on Sun day was prohibited. Rev. Walton said that the figures quoted by Mr. Christie may be correct and they, may not. "The church had carried on for thousands of years now and would n'ever be replaced by sports. Mr. Winstanley: What about Good ' Friday ? Rev. Walton said his motion did not refer to Good Friday. ' Rev. Walton in replying, said that peace time conditions could not be likened to those pertaining in war time. During war those in command had to consider the psychological aspect of the men whom they had to encourage and hearten up. The returned soldiers throughout New Zealand had requested that Anzac Day should be kept sacred - in memory of their dead comrades, and surely their wishes should be adhered to. His motion was merely a policy to help the club. He knew of two or three citiz'ens who would join up with the club if Sunday play was cut out. He would like to point out that his motion did not debar Sunday play, however.

The motion was then put and declared on the voices by the chairman. Mr.'Rang-iheuea: I challenge that decision, Mr. Chairman. The chairman: I'll ask for a, show of hands then. Mr. Admore: You will be causing trouble if you do. This Avill have the effect of splitting the club up into two sections. The chairman said that he would use his prerogative. He would ask for all those against the motion to. show their hands. He had been reading this question up and was quife right in his decision. •Considerable discussion arose, as a result of which Mr. Rangiheuea, in tile interests of the club, withdrew 7iis challenge and the motion was declared carried. •Mr. Nye brought,up the question of having the green electrically lit for night play, which he considered would be of great benefit to the club. Other members endorsed the idea, and a committee consisting of Messrs Jno. Ross, R. Downes and J. Thomson were appointed to make inquiries and report to a further meeting.