QUESTION OF AGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 291, 9 December 1939, Page 9

QUESTION OF AGE

LAW AND CUSTOM WANGANUI A. AND P. DISCUSSION A protest from a mother that -her dauzhter aged 15 years and eight months, 'had been disqualified from entering the horse section of the show for riders 15 years of age and under, because the chief steward «>ns>dered her over age, gave rise to a length) discussion at the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association me ing yesterday. As the opinions of the members were divided the honorary solicitor. Mr. F. K. -Turnbull called in to give a ruling on the qu s ( 11 Explaining the position, the' concerned stated that it was the _prac tice at the show to class competno£ a«l5 years of age uj to the r fifteenth birthday. Several members supporte this view that if this was the case, a naby • ■ in its second year the day after emg , b Tfier < fm7he t r e «on. Mr. Turn-j bull was called in to clarify the post tion Speaking strictly from a legal, point of view, a person, when 15 and a dav. was over 10, said Mr Turn bull, but it was generally understood that 15 and under meant underl6. Custom overrides law in some cases, he added, and from his experience o. shows if a boy or girl was lo and 11 months of age. he or she was generally classed as 15. In certain exams, and athletic and swimming contests, competitors had to be under a specified ace at a certain date. However, said Mr. Turnbull, if the custom at the show was as stated, the steward was quite right. On the motion of the chairman. Mi. W Craig, it was decided to have Mr. Turn-bull draft a reply to the protest explaining the position and supporting the chief steward in I - m-tion