“UNRULY ELEMENT”

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4463, 13 August 1941, Page 5

“UNRULY ELEMENT”

three instances cited. AT SCHOOL GROUNDS AND IN THE PARKS. By a somewhat remarkable and, be it added, regrettable coincidence what Was described by one speaker as the reprehensible behaviour of the “ unruly elements,” was discussed at the meetings of two local bodies in Te Awamutu on Monday evening last. “HIGHLY DANGEROUS PRACTICE.” First of all, some discussion took place at the meeting of the Te Aw)amutu District High School Committee on the subject of trespassers. It was reported by members that during week-ends and holidays children on bicycles used the hard surfaces about the school as racing tracks, and frequently behaved in a manner highly dangerous to themselves and the school property and grounds. A suggestion was made that trespass notices should be erected, but it vias felt that they would be unsightly, and that there was really no desire to prevent well-behaved people from walking through the school property and seeing the school. It .was finally decided to take steps to check the unruly elements. The Committee hopes that parent® and the general public will co-operate and that drastic action will not be necessary. WANTON DAMAGE AT ALBERT PARK. During the proceedings of the Te Awamutu Domain Board, reference was made to another aspect of the matter. Mr W. J. North referred in scathing terms to the wanton damage which had been frequently perpetrated at the grand-stand at Albert Park. The old Domain Jfkhrd had had the utmost difficulty in preventing this senseless damage, and had even gone so far as to put iron bars .across the doors, but without avail. Efforts to trace the culprits straightout vandals had been unsuccessful, investigations end ing in a denial by each and every one of any knowledge of the damage done. The chairman (Mr L. G. Armstrong) said that when ne made an inspection of the grandstand he was appalled by the wanton destruction wrought. Locks had been broken, gibraltar boards deliberately broken, and other damage of a most reprehensible nature done. It was difficult, if not impossible, to understand the mentality of the persons performing these foolish and destructive acts. Eventually, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Les. S. Armstrong, seconded by Mr F. Parsons, to ‘circularise all the clubs and bodies using the grandstand, urging the members thereof to protect their owYi property and to be vigilant so as to prevent wanton acts of vandalism occurring IN VICTORIA PARK Later in the same meeting, Mr V A de Coek brought up the question of cycling in Victoria Park, saying that youths, not content with cycling round “ the track,” Were now trespassing on the ladies’ croquet lawns, to which they were doing a lot oi damage. He moved that cycling in the Park be prohibited. Cr Les. S. Armstrong seconded the motion, which was carried. ON THE TRIANGLE. Mr de Coek then remarked that only that day he had noticed a horse tethered on the lawn in the triangle at the Soldiers’ Memorial. That was not a public-spirited action, and he drew attention to the incident so as to prevent misuse in the future. Mr F. Parsons said he would in future “ keep a watchftil eye ” on the triangle and endeavour to prevent a recurrence of such an incident as related bv 'Mr de Coek, an incident which one and all must deplore.