“BOYS’ TOWN” FOR CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 9

“BOYS’ TOWN” FOR CHRISTCHURCH

MEETING CALLED TO DISCUSS PLAN A former Mayor of the Australian “Boys' Town,” Mr John M. McKenzie, is endeavouring to start a “boys’ town movement in Christchurch. He will explain his scheme to representatives of a number of Christchurch organisations at a function on the morning of November 20, when the film “Boys’ Town” will be screened. Mr McKenzie proposes for Christchurch a “boys’ town” run on the same lines as the famous one in the United States and the Australian “boys’ town.” “I believe that the inauguration of such a scheme in New. Zealand would constitute a major step forward in our reformative system and would be invaluable as a means of rehabilitating boys who have, often through tragic and unfortunate circumstances, become delinquent,” he says in' a circular letter. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane M.P.) has been invited to open the function on November 20, which will be held at the Mayfair Theatre. ' The council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, which received Mr McKenzie’s circular letter last evening, decided to refer it to the Junior Chamber of Commerce, which has been active in welfare projects in Christchurch.