LABOR’S USE OF SUNDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1921, Page 4

LABOR’S USE OF SUNDAY.

It is an old and true saying that a man cannot be made religious by Act of Parliament, yet the Legislature has seen fit to prevent, as far as possible, the carrying out of industrial activities on that day, and endeavored to ensure that it shall generally be observed as a day of rest from ordinary occupations. While there are certain exceptions to this rule they are restricted, and every encouragement given to regard Sunday as a day of rest, recreation, and Religious observances. Tn its true spirit this day should be the brightest, happiest, and most satisfying of all days in the week, free from the heavy cares and worries of existence and devoid of strife. The secularising of this holy day is a process that has gone on for many years with increasing speed, and bids fair to become a menace to civilisation, besides having a deleterious effect on the moral and social life of the people. The Socialistic section of Labor appears to regard the misuse of Sunday as one of its weapons for destroying mutual goodwill and trust, and creating turmoil. The holding of political and electioneering meetings by these extremists on Sunday is nothing less than a direct affront to the public, and. is indicative of how deeply the inroads of Socialism have scarred and furrowed the moral sense and decency of its advocates. When it is considered that it is the manual workers, above all others ,who should benefit the most by the rational employment of the appointed day of rest, it is the height of the worst form of selfishness for these extremists ’to desecrate the day by making it subservient to their political ends. The strife and turmoil of politics should be especially eschewed on Sunday, but these iconoclasts are bent on destruction, hence their method to destroy all that is best of ’Sunday and make it all that is worst. No protest can be too strong, against this pernicious attempt to wreck all that right-minded people hold as essential to their moral, social and religious welfare.