Games in dairy lead to row

Press, 10 November 1981, Page 1

Games in dairy lead to row

Slot machines in a Riccarton dairy are the centre of a growing row. Complaints by residents have led the Riccarton Borough Council to seek legal advice on whether the slot machines in the dairy at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Matipo Street are infringing by-laws or the district planning scheme. The principal of the Wharenui School, Mr C. A. Chapman, is upset about schoolchildren playing the machines and has taken the matter up with the Education Board. The dairy owners, Mr and Mrs C. Holden, are also “up in arms” against the council and the principal. Mr Chapman sent a letter to a borough committee meeting yesterday expressing concern about the number of pupils who were bringing money to school to

spend on the machines. He said that the actions of a shop assistant giving children money for the games was an “attempt at bribing children to use a machine against instructions from the school. “The attraction of a slot machine can place temptation in a child’s way to obtain money from various sources,” said Mr Chapman. Mrs Holden said that she and her husband had sent a letter through a solicitor telling Mr Chapman to “mind his own business." When the matter was settled, the Holdens intended to send a bill to Mr Chapman or the Education Department for legal She said the children had been most upset about the dispute. Mrs Holden sometimes gave the children free games for good behaviour. The- machines have been there about three months.