“Gang System Established Among N.Z. Children”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 10

“Gang System Established Among N.Z. Children”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. The present problem of maladjusted children in secondary schools was nothing to what would come in the future, Mr P. Pitcaitkly, of Auckland, told the conference of the Secondary School Boards’ Association in Wellington.

Mr Pitcaithly said the American gang system was established in New Zealand. He had investigated the position in Auckland and had discovered that there wfere several well - established gangs. The conference was discussing a Christchurch remit reccanmending that the Education Department establish in suitable centres institutions where small numbers of difficult girls might board. It suggested that their education, leisure time activities and remedial discipline should proceed hand in hand under competent guidance until they had become readjusted to normal home and school life. The conference referred the remit to the executive ot the association for favourable consideration. Moving the remit, Mr H. R. Peers, of the Christchurch West High School board, said the problem was becoming more and more

pressing in city areas. The remit had emanated from a meeting of senior mistresses held .in the Christchurch area recently. The principal of Christchurch West High School had said recently that most girls who wore expelled came from unsatisfactory homes. Their expulsion very often added another nail in their moral coffin because it gave them more time on the streets. For this reason schools were often reluctant to expel them even although they came into contact with other pupils. The conference also carried a Morrinsville remit asking that parents be required by law to produce a medical certificate if required for any absence longer than two weeks. Xt requested that the statutory penalties for truancy be reexamined in the light of present day money values.