SIX PUPILS WITHDRAWN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 13

SIX PUPILS WITHDRAWN

Objection To Aboriginals

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) ELLIOTT (N. Territory).

AU six white children and a part-aboriginal attending the Elliott school—soo mile* from Darwin were withdrawn by parents today when five aboriginal children turned up tor lessons.

The parent* of four of the white children object to what they say is a lack of hygiene among the natives. The two other white children withdrawn are the daughters of the schoolmistress. Mrs Margaret Allvar. Mrs Allvar said today she knew the native children were showered every day, and she had no objection to their standard of hygiene But she had been expecting to teach a normal class of children—not aboriginal

children whose education standard was far below that of the whites. “I'm not happy from that point of view," she said. “My two wiU be kept away for at least a week until this matter is resolved." Meanwhile Mrs Allvar will continue to teach the native children. The five aboriginal children are aU members of the Djingali tribe. This little township 1* on the north-south road, midway between Darwin and Alice Springs.

Before the native children went to school today they showered. cleaned their teeth, and changed Into clean new clothes, under the supervision of Mrs Mackey, wife of welfare officer Peter Mackey. Mrs Mackey has been appointed acting matron to care for them. They will return to her home for a supervised lunch each day.