Vandalism In Mair, Debbie Parks

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1940, Page 6

Vandalism In Mair, Debbie Parks

Believed to be secondary school pupils, vandal? wrecked many of the improvements carried out to Dobbic and Mail 1 Parks last week-end. This is how they spent part of Sunday afternoon:

Tearing down directional signs and descriptive notices on trees, erected by tbe Whangarei Borough Council and public-spirited citizens. Some of these signs were thrown away and others were left hanging.

Pulling the front off one of the seats.

Throwing' duckboards from the swimming' sheds into the river. Breaking young trees. Strewing the paths generally with punga fronds, ferns and seedling trees.

According to the Parks Committee chairman of the Whangarei Borough Council (Mr D. J. Thomson) both parks were found to be in excellent order when inspected on Sunday morning.

During the afternoon, the parks were visited b} r members of the visiting Takapuna Grammar School Rugby team and Ml. Albert School hockey eleven, accompanied by certain Whangarei High School boys.

Secondary School Pupils?

"It is beyond doubt that the damage must be attributed to some of these boys," Mr Thomson said.

"Only two years ago a similar wreck of our parks was made by a visiting secondary school team.

"Behaviour of this nature is extremely difficult to understand, especially coming from boys, whose training and school spirit, should put them above committing such acts of hooliganism.

“Realising that we have in Mail’ and Dobbie Parks two ol' the best assets of the, town, the council takes a particular pride in them. “Such damage as was committed last week-end is particularly disappointing to our honorary wardens, who have erected most of the signs at their own expense, provided some of the seats and planted hundreds of trees. - ’

Mr Thomson said that a complaint had been made to the High School authorities, and that the Principal (Mr A. R. Ryder) was investigating the matter.