Leader-Post
July 8, 1955. p.3
The question of whether or not there will be professional sport in Regina on Sundays may be referred to the voters at the fall election if Ald. Harry Clarke gets his way.
Ald. Clarke presented a notice of motion to city council Thursday night that the question of professional sport on Sundays be referred to the electors in November.
Council heard protests about a recent decision to permit Regina Braves baseball club to play three games on Sundays at Taylor Field from the Saskatchewan conference of the United church, the Regina presbytery of the United church, Northside Women’s Christian Temperance Union and Central Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Council decided to receive and file the protests.
A communication from the conference, signed by Rev. J. R. Hord, minister of Lakeview United church, and H. A. Mutchmor, minister of Knox-Metropolitan United church, requested council to clarify its position in regard to professional sport on Sundays.
“The conference has been requested by Regina presbytery to get council to state its policy in the regard,” the communication said.
It asked council to define the line at which it would give or withhold consent to holding Sunday sports on city-owned property.
Council was asked if it would give its consent to professional football or hockey at Taylor Field on Sundays.
“The conference sees the matter of giving consent to Sunday baseball as one for serious concern,” the letter stated.
It said council in all fairness could not withhold its consent to allow similar privileges to those interested in other sports.
A letter from the Regina Presbytery of the church said Sunday is the Lord’s Day which should be a happy, holy day given to public and private worship, reading, meditation and deeds of kindness.
CHURCH DISTURBED
“The church is disturbed by an action which might turn a holy day into a pagan holiday,” the letter stated.
A letter from Central Women’s Christian Temperance Union said Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, a day for rest and worship.
“Sport on Sundays should be discouraged by city fathers,” it said.
It asked council to reconsider its decision in regard to Sunday baseball at Taylor Field and to rescind its permission given Regina Braves to hold three baseball games on Sundays.
Ald. Clarke said a good suggestion had recently been made in an editorial appearing in The Leader-Post.
“In it we were advised to put the matter to the electors in the form of a referendum,” he said.
He said there are numerous people in the city who do not hold the same view as a probable minority who wanted Sunday sport.
Ald. Ross Sneath said there is no pressure for Sunday sport.
“There are those who say it is time this part of the country wakened up but no pressure in evidence for Sunday sport,” he said. “Nobody wants it to such an extent that a vote seems called for.”
PERMISSION GIVEN
Ald. Joseph Wilkie said all that had been done was to give permission for three games of baseball at Taylor Field on Sundays.
“If we want, we do not need to go further in the matter,” he said.
Ald. Fred Hill said the city controlled King’s park and Boggy Creek where golf is played on Sundays.
“How would this be affected by a decision for no Sunday sport?” he asked.
Ald. Sneath said council has made its decision in favor of allowing three games of baseball and that had seemed right at the time.
“It would be difficult to state a long-range point of view as suggested in one of the communications,” he said.
Ald. Don McPherson, moving the communications be received and filed, said Ald. Clarke would have to tender his suggestion for a referendum in the form of a notice of motion.
This was agreed. The matter will be discussed at a future meeting.
