Sunday Shopping (Press, 8 December 1989)

In a letter to the editor published on 8 December 1989, L. R. Burgess expresses concern over the direction New Zealand society seems to be taking. Responding to a headline about the opening of shops on Sundays, Burgess argues that this change is indicative of a broader decline in moral standards within the country. He notes that while shops may be opening, places like hospitals and churches are becoming less significant in public life. Burgess criticises the government for allowing social changes that he believes threaten the moral fabric of society, pointing specifically to issues like abortion, sodomy, and the promotion of gambling. He laments what he perceives as an overemphasis on sport and horse racing, particularly on Sundays, and claims this shift disrupts family life and is not desired by the majority of New Zealanders. He advocates for the government to stop catering to special interest groups and to acknowledge the consequences of its actions, which he argues include rising crime rates. Burgess questions whether there is a constitutional mechanism to hold the government accountable before the next general election, suggesting that waiting another year for an opportunity to effect change is too long.

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