THE DUKE'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 234, 3 October 1934, Page 3

THE DUKE'S VISIT.

NO SCHOOL DISPLAY.

DECISION BY THE BOARD.

COMPLICATION OF HOLIDAYS,

As city and suburban school teachers arc unable to offer their full cooperation in the matter, the Auckland Education Board at its meeting this morning decided to advise the Auckland City Council that it will be impossible to arrange for a children's gathering on the Domain on Thursday. December 27, on the occasion of the visit to Auckland of the Duke of Gloucester. The board will make it clear that under ordinary circumstances it would have been delighted to arrange for a display of children similar to that arranged when other members of the Koyal tamily nad visited the Dominion.

In introducing tlic subject for discussion, the chairman, Mr. T. U. said he had been approached in the matter and had expressed the opinion that it would be difficult to arrange an assembly of children on the date suggested. They had had displays by the children when the present King and Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of York had visited Auckland, and they had been a great success, but on this occasion the Duke of Gloucester would be in Auckland ten days after the schools had been closed for the Christinas holidays. The last quarter of the year, with the examinations In progress, would be a difficult period in which to organise anything in any case, Once the schools broke up for (he holidays, teachers would be scattered all over the Dominion, and families would move to the seaside. Personally, he felt that if they could not arrange the display well they should not arrange it at all. Head teachers in the city and suburbs had l>ecn circularised in the matter, and their replies indicated that, the proposal to hold a display on this occasion was impracticable owing to the fact that His Royal Highness' visit coincided with the school holidays. Not one school could offer full cooperation in any arrangements that might be made. '