SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE TEST

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 303, 16 September 1921, Page 6

SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE TEST

SPECIAL CONCESSION CRITICISED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING The provision of special facilities for the attendance of school children at the third Tost match on Saturday was criticised by Councillor M. F. Luckie at last night’s meeting of the City Council. Mr. Lpckie said that either the New Zealand Rugby Union or tlie Wellington Rugby Union had given publicity to the fact that children under- a certain ege, if under t!he control of schoolmasters, would be admitted to Athletic Park at a price of only Is. If no warning was issued, the ground was going to be crowded with young people long before the adult public arrived on the scene. The park was, in all human probability, going to be taxed- beyond its capacity, nnd he feared for the consequences when the crowd began to move opt after the match. Who would protect the children then? Great efforts had been made by the city engineer to ensure the provision of a large number or additional exits, but with such a crowd as would assemble, on Saturday if the weather turned out fine it was impossible to say what might happen. If he were the father of boys he would pay a good deal to keep, them away from the match. -Councillor T. Forsyth (who is chairman of the Wellington Education Board) said that the headmasters, had undertaken the work of controlling the children. He had every confidence in their capacity to fulfil the task properly. If the general crowd was kept in order as well as fhe children would be, there would be no need for concern. The children were to enter the park early, and go inside the enclosure, where they were to squat down on the grass. If the children were allowed to go in haphazard, they/ would only take up room outside the barrier. The discussion did not go any further. It was out of order, and the Mayor brought it to an end.