INTEREST KEPT UP

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 2

INTEREST KEPT UP

Play Centre Members The conviction that they were Involved in a movement that was of lasting benefit to their own children and to the community led many persons to continue their interest in the Canterbury Play Centres’ Association long after their own children had grown up, says the president of the association (Mrs R. S. Royds) in her report. The decision to adopt the title of Canterbury, rather than Christchurch, as formerly, had been justified; of the 44 affiliated centres, only 18 were in the city suburbs, the remainder being in country districts. There were 41 active centres, and one in recess. They provided 109 weekly sessions, giving play experience to 1333 children. Two centres were in preparation in country districts, and there had been inquiries from a further two. Close contacts had been maintained with town and country centres through regular visits from 12 zone visitors. The development and planning sub-committee had handled 16 centres since it was formed in 1960, it reported. It was believed that the procedure used gave a good foundation in play centre principles. Emphasis during the year had been on meeting the needs of the country supervisors, committee members and parents, the staff and education sub-committee reported. In addition to the country residential school, committee members had been going out to attend evening meetings when requested. One hundred country members had enrolled for the country correspondence course for supervisors since its inception. The committee had accomplished a great deal of work.