CENTENNIAL PICNIC AT WINGATUI

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 7

CENTENNIAL PICNIC AT WINGATUI

MORE THAN 10,000 CHILDREN ENTERTAINED (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 20. For a little more than 10,000 Dunedin school children, to say nothing of nearly twice that number of adults, today was a day that will be remembered as long as they live. The centennial picnic at Wingatui proved a brilliant success. Such an outing must be unique in the history of this Dominion. Nothing of such magnitude has been attempted before and the fact that it was carried out from beginning to end without a single hitch made it a triumph of organization. The transportation of 10,000 children from their schools to Wingatui was in itself a tremendous task.

For the greater part of the day the children were allowed to wander at will over the beautiful grounds of the racecourse. The ceremony which was held immediately after lunch was kept as brief as possible, and three or four speeches occupied little more than half an hour.

If the authorities looked on today’s evacuation as a trial for an occasion of a more serious nature they could hardly have been disappointed. In one hour and 22 minutes 10,000 children were taken from the city in circumstances which reflect great credit on the youngsters themselves. As they arrived at the station in trams and buses they took their places in their allotted groups without the slightest confusion. They marched on to the platform and boarded the trains waiting for them with a complete absence of disorder. Their behaviour throughout the entire operation was exemplary and says much for the coaching that must have been given them by the masters and mistresses in charge.