17 JANUARY 1931, Page 3

Sunday Observance Laws It is the policy of some of

those who are determined to get obsolete laws about the observance of Sunday removed from the Statute Book to make the laws as ridiculous as possible. Thus at the Manchester City Police Court on Friday, January 9th, Mr. L. B. Cox was accused by the Sunday Games and Freedom League of—in the words of the Sunday Observance Act of 1667—" failing to exer- cise himself in the duties of piety and true religion on the previous Sunday." The Stipendiary Magistrate felt compelled to admit that Mr. Cox had broken the law and he therefore " admonished " him. It might have added to the humour of the case if the Magistrate (who perhaps had also not been to church) had admonished himself.