Never On Sunday

/TONGA’S Order in Public Places Act, which prohibits work, and even participation in sport, on Sun days, won’t be relaxed. The Tongan Parliament decided this at its recent session, following a lively discussion on a motion by the peoples’ repre sentative, Tu’ilatai Mataele, asking that the Sunday ban be lifted on cer tain projects and activities—especially those affecting the hotel, transport for tourists, hospital patients, school children and oil exploration. He pointed out that the ban, which had been enforced last year, had hit bakers, taxi proprietors, sick people or pregnant women, elderly church goers, and students whose midday meal was delivered to the schools.

He said the subject was “a delicate one” but the legislation should be reviewed in light of changing condi tions. The motion was defeated 12 to 4.