SUNDAY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 28 June 1929, Page 3

SUNDAY FOOTBALL.

CLERGY ASK COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION. LETTER REFERRED TO FOOTBALL CLUB. Following the protest of the local clergy against organised football matches being played on Sundays in the .Shannon Domain, when the Borough Council at its previous meeting decided to take no action, and which decision caused a large number of residents to write to the Press protesting against tlu< Council's attitude in the matter, a further letter was received by the Mayor at Tuesday evening's Council meeting, from Rev. A. J. Farnell, on behalf of the local clergy, asking the Council to reconsider their decision. The following is a copy of the ltetter received:

"The Mayor, Borough Council Office; Shannon, Dear and Worshipful Sir,--

""On behalf of the other signatories and myself to our former letter to your Borough Council, I would vcry much like you to give an oppqrtunity of the Council re-considering their decision on the matter of organised football matches on Sundays. ■"I should very much have liked an opportunity of speaking to you on the matter, but Mr v J. M. Hiekson's visit to-day has prevented that. "My dear Mr Mayor, the position is that each and every one of us have been approached by members of our respective congregations that the matter should not lie where, it does at present. I do not like saying it, but the fact of the matter is this, that unless a move favourable response is given by your Council, wc shall be compelled to come as a deputation at some future meeting with a signed petition of our supporters from among the electors of the Borough seeking a hearing from your Council. . Personally, I .would perefer that E-uch steps e-hould not have to be taken. —Believe me, Yours faithfully, A. J. Farnell."

After the letter had been read, the Mayor asked if any Councillor wished to speak on it. 'Cr. Downes was the first speaker. He said that he considered the whole business was an insult to the footballers of Shannon, that the first protest should have been sent t\> the Couneil. The footballers were just a's conscientious as any body of men in the town, and if the combined clergy had stopped to consider and had approached the footballers, their request, he felt sure, would certainly have gor favourable consideration. "They don't do that," he said, "they say "Thou shalt not play football on Sundays,' without first' consulting the footballers. Then again, some people have rushed into print, but afraid to sign their names. These writers are tarred with 'the same brush as they are ashamed of the name their parents gave them. They are not worthy of consideration, and until they do sign their names to their i protest, neither this Council nor any body/ of men should recognise them.

Continuing, he said, "I blush to think of the silent applause the Council has received for the good work done in the 4 past,' and if"they think we have done something we shouldn't, they are down on us at onee." There had been a lot said about resting on Sundays. What about the Council, who, not being in a position to employ an engineer, were compelled to lay out their work on Sundays, this being the only day they could get together. Would these writers agree to the Council paying an engineer, so that they could avoid working on Sundays? He concluded by again stating that he had no doubt that, had the protest been sent to the Football Club, the Council would not have had it to deal with. He strongly objected to the attitude of "Thou shalt not do this or that." Cr. Hook said that, in endorsing the previous speaker's remarks, he himself had ueen classed as a "fencesitter," but he was prepared to stand by hi.? statement. He agreed that the clergy should have given the footballers a chance of rectify the trouble, before making any drastic move. Cr. Thwaites was of opinion that the lossou had been taught and 1 e did not think a repetition of it would happen. Exception had been taken to organised matches, lie vnui, pointing out that in Palmcrsten North recently ■the Cbunfil would not grant permission for a charity game to be played on a Sunday. The danger would be that, if it was permitted in Shai.non and prohibited in other places, footballers would come here. When Levin objected to bowls being played there on Sundays, quite, a number of bowlers came from that town by car to Shannon. If a repetition happened here, itwould »not be the Shannon boy 3 who took part, but it would be left to the rougher element from other places. The Domain was under the jurisdiction of the Council, and it was their duty to say whether football shall be played there or not. Cr. Curran, jun., said he was present at the football match and no one could take any exception to what took place there. Last Sunday he had seen a game played at Palmerston Noith which was witnessed by a big crowd. He had watched the Press, but had seen no comment on it. The Mayor: Is it not a fact that Sunday football is going to be made a practice here? That evening, he said, Mr'Mitchell had called at the Council office an.l asked whether the Council were going to give permission or not.for Sunday games, as. a game was being arranged if it was not objected to. Cr. Curran, jun , aaid he had been informed that this game was being arranged to raise money for the sufferers by the earthquake. The Mayor: That is rather premature, then, as no citizens' committee hae yet been set up to deal with funds.

He continued: "I am not a saint, but I don't approve of organised games being played on Sundays. It does not seem right, and as an act of courtesy, the footballers should have come to the Council for ' , Cr. Downes: I take it that &s the Football Club have not got permission from the Council to play on Sundays, it makes my argument chat the clergy should have approached them first, all the stronger. Cr. Curran, jun.y I move that the letter be referred to the Football Club. To this Cr. Thwaites said that the matter was one foY the Council to decide.

Cr. Anderson considered the Football Club certainly lacked in courtesy in not asking the Council's permission to use the grounds. Ho did not object to football, but he would not hold with rowdyism. The position I take it, said Cr. Hyde, is that the secretary of the Football Club called and gave the Mayor to understand they were waiting on the decision of the Council re a permit to play on Sunday. That is the question for" us to decide to-night. Cr. Downes: We have no application before us for the use of the grounds. All we have got to consider is the letter from the clergy which we have before us. Cr. Curran, sen., If they wish to play on Sunday, Mr Woods will allow■ them the use of his .paddock. Cr. Hyde said that if the letter was referred' back to the writers it would »how weakness on the part of the Council. The ground was under the Council's jurisdiction, and they should decide one ivay or the other that night. Cr. Downes: The clergy have lacked courtesy. The Mayor: And so have the footballers in not asking for the use of the ground. A show of hands being taken and there being only two dissentients, — Crs Hyde and Thwaites—it was resolved that the letter be referred back to .the combined religious denominations, asking them first to place the matter before the Shannon Football Club.

SHANNON FOOTBALL CLUB'S ATjTITUDB. TAKES NO PAET IN ARRANGING SUNDAY PLAY. (To the Editor). Sir _-6n Tuesday evening I called at the Borough Council office < before the commencement of the Council meet-, ing and, as an individual, inquired whether the footballers had permission to play on the Domain on Sundays. I was asked if another match had been arranged. I said I heard of a game spoken of that evening. The Mayor said'that the matter was going to be ■decided on at that meeting, and that I would be informed later. I also stated that the Football Club did not wish to take any active part in the matter. Next morning I was informed that the Council had decided that „thei, matter be referred back to the petitioners to be brought before the Shannon Football Club. '■' In fairness to the Shannon Football Club, I wish to state that it did not organise the previous Sunday football match. That game was arranged amongst some of the members. At a meeting of the committee of the Club held about a fortnight ago it was decided that the Club take no part in the arranging .'of Sunday football games. To me, the decision of the Shannon Borough Council on this matter is a very weak one. They are the controlling body of the Domain and it is only for them to say "Yes" or "No" as to whether football is to be played there on Sundays. It seems that they are trying to pass the responsibility on to someone else and that is the Shannon Football Club, which body, as I have already stated, is not taking any part in the matter.—l am, etc., 1 , G. G. MITCHELL.