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Story: Weekends

Seddon and the sabbatarians, 1904

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Seddon and the sabbatarians, 1904

This 1904 cartoon shows sabbatarian ministers confronting Premier Richard Seddon over a Sunday fishing expedition. Strict sabbatarians believed that the sabbath was for prayer, church attendance, religious reading and quiet reflection. They were opposed to Sunday recreation such as picnics, hunting, fishing or walks in the country. Seddon was criticised by Protestant clergymen for taking a Sunday fishing excursion on the government steamer.

Using this item

National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past

Reference: Observer, 12 March 1904, p. 16

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Weekends – Origins of the weekend – the Sunday sabbath, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/39776/seddon-and-the-sabbatarians-1904 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 30 November 2012.