SOVIET FETES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 17

SOVIET FETES.

DEATH AND BURNS TO CHILDREN. TOPIIEAVY CANDLES. MOSCOW. Burning candles falling off New Year's trees—which in Soviet Russia take- the place of Christmas treesbrought many casualties among school children over'the holidays, reports "have disclosed. At least two children were burned to death and scores scut to hospitals. In Moscow there were no fatalities, but many fires were started. Tinsel and toys to decorate the New Year's trees were made available this year for the first time since the revolution of 1917. Candles which could be bought, however, were about six inches long and topheavy for the branches of the trees. Accidents resulted.

At the deaf and dumb institute near Gorky six children dressed as snowflakes were dancing around a tree when a candle fell on one. All are now in the hospital.

At Sverdlovsk 400 children and parents were attending a party at the school when a candle fell on the head of a child dressed as a rabbit. The children tried to run away while the parents rushed toward the tree. In the confusion one child wa3 killed, 13 others were burned and 31 in all were taken to a hospital.

In the town of Slobodsk, in the Kirov district, a candle fell on a child dressed as Grandfather Frost, and she was so badly burned that she died. Four_ of her playmates were taken to a hospital with burns. The school officials and members of the town education board who organised this party nre to be tried for negligence, according to reports.

Aside from these misfortunes, the thousands of decorated treee anl the special children's parties held in every school and park in the Soviet Union made this year's celebration a time of merrymaking for the young people whicii had not been known since the overthrow of the monarchy.