TRUANCY CASES

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 14, 16 July 1918, Page 7

TRUANCY CASES

CHILDREN AND THE PANTOMIME

Sickness is a good reason why children should be kept away from school, veTy bad weather is a fairly good excuse under certain circumstances, but_ the afternoon performance of a pantomime is no excuse whatever. Proceedings, were taken at the Juvenile Court this morning against several parents and guardians— Charlotte Withers, Joseph W. Savage, Gregory Barrett, Hercules Nicol, and Joseph Mathias Marshall—who had kept their children from school on Wednesday, 3rd July, on which afternoon a matinee performance of "Dick Whitting^ ton" was staged. The Truant Officer, Mr. J. W. Butler, said that the management of the company had applied for permission to employ a- certain-number of children for the performance of the pantomime, and the authorities had granted permits on the visual conditions that the children's education would not be interfered with. However, the children were kept at the theatre till late !\t night, and were also asked to attend the afternoon performances. One little girl, just over eight years of age, had been so upset by the excitement and late hours that she had been in bed ever since the pantomime. The prosecutions had been brought as a warning to parents that children must attend school regularly. The present cases concerned only children who 'had actually taken part in the performance, but a great many others had also been kept away from school to witness the .performance. Sixty ,or seventy children were away from one city 'school alone on the afternoon in question. Mr. F. V.- Frazer, S.M., said that possibly the parents were not so much to blaroe as the management of the company. However, the parents Were certainly responsible, and he would record a conviction in each case as a.warning, and impose fines of 2s and costs. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate made an order committing a nine-year-old child of Herman Stevens to the Wellingt6ri Receiving Home, as applied for by the police. Alfred Bradley, who had been pre-. viously proceeded against, was fined £2 and costs 7s, in default seven days in gaol, 'for having failed to have his thir-teen-year-old boy properly enrolled. For a similar offence, William Thomas Wells was fined 10s and costs.