DANGEROUS PRACTICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26567, 16 September 1947, Page 4

DANGEROUS PRACTICE

PLAYING AMONGST TIMBER STACKS CHILDREN ON FORESHORE Children with little regard for the rights of other people or for their own . safety have in recent months given many anxious moments to employees of timber yards situated on the foreshore. It must be conceded that the area has attractions of peculiar interest to young folk, who wander in the vicinity of the tidal mud flats and the partially reclaimed land. But timber yard workers have good reason for diverting juveniles to other localities, where they would not be exposed to danger from falling timber stacks or be tempted to remove stacking strips and lengths of timber. “So long as they find amusement in harmless games and ramblings in areas well away from the yards, we will be quite happy,” said the manager of one timber yard when commenting to the Daily Times. “Unfortunately boys have formed a habit of playing among the stacked timber, to their danger. My employees cannot maintain a constant watch to prevent this, because much of their time is spent in the factory, and the same may be said of other yards. “ Timber stacked on- the foreshore is exposed to the prevailing winds.’ he continued, “and in the circumstances steps should be taken bj parents and school teachers to warn the children of the danger of playing about the yards, and particularly climbing up high stacks of sawn timber,” ,- , , He pointed out where children had caused damage by removing * lengths of timber and stacking strips, with the result that some piles had collapsed and others which had been weakened had toppled later during gusty winds. “ The children are responsible for a good deal of loss and damage during the year,” he added, “ through purloining timber and stacking strips, the latter apparently finding favour for such things as wooden swords and spears and kite frames. Lengths of timber dragged from the yards have been used to span drains and ditches and the aggregate loss in respect to all the timber yards un the foreshore must amount to a fairly substantial sum over a year. In fact,” he concluded. “ matters have got to the stage when it has become necessary to advise the police. A little helpful advice from parents might serve to avoid unpleasant consequences for their children.”