OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS
SUNDAY SPORTS (To the Editoi’) Sir, —The action of the Borough Council in barring all sports on the Park Oval on Sundays calls for a little comment. First, I commend the mover of the motion for having the courage of his convictions and agree that he has an undoubted right to his opinion, but does this opinion, as expressed in the motion, measure up to the ordinary man’s idea of the keeping of the Sabbath (which by the way can be almost any day in the week according to the sect to which you may be an adherent'). I think not, and I feel that after all the ordinary man is predominant in numbers, and therefore, this being a democratic country, his wishes should count, or should they not? Let me digress for a moment to say that a few years ago, it was considered by one faith to be a sin to whistle on the Sabbath—but to get on with the job, how many of our councillors qre members of tennis, golf or bowling clubs and do not raise their voices against these sports being played on Sundays, so why single out cricket? Another angle is that our soldiers have to work and fight on the Sabbath and have of necessity to take their leave on other days. Those whose leave falls on week days can join in the sport of the day, but those who perforce ’have to take their leave on Sunday are, by this motion, barred from participation in cricket on the best pitch in Masterton. I know that a great screed on the decadence of the nation will be raised by some, but there is nothing decadent in clean spofrt on any day; the decadence of the nation rather comes from the empty state of the cradle. Personally I am not a member of any sporting club, but nevertheless I feel that the councillors should not discriminate between sports. Bowling on the Park greens and boating on the lake (for which a charge is made) are permitted, so why not cricket on the Oval? —Yours, etc., CONSISTENT. Masterton, January 21. THE CLAIMS OF SOLDIERS (To the Editor) Sir, —Regarding the statement in last night’s paper, referring to the Borough Council’s decision that there should be no sport on the Park Oval on Sunday, it seems a reflection on the fighting services. These soldiers, who have a limited amount of leave to play any sport, should not be subjected to the indignity of not being allowed a small measure of relaxation. These men, who are prepared if required, to give all, even their lives, for their country, should not be denied the little pleasure they can derive in their spare moments. Tennis and bowls are allowed on Sunday; why not give the soldiers a small bit of pleasure for all they give in return? These men are prepared to fight on Sunday for the likes of members of the Borough Council. Why not give them this small privilege?—Yours, etc., L. BELWORTHY. Masterton. January 22.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 2
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511OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 2
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