MISCHEVIOUS CHILDREN

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16035, 28 January 1920, Page 9

MISCHEVIOUS CHILDREN

DAMAGE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY,

Complaints were made by Or. Burnett at the meeting of the Borough Council last right as to the damage done in Motua Gardens by children. He said that the caretaker cid splendid work there, but damage had been done from time to time to the flower beds and shrubs. The latest act was to kill and mutilate some of the goldfish in the fishpond, and the basin lias to be pulled down and ro-erected so 'as to put the fish out of the children’s reach. He suggested that a circular letter should be sent to all head teachers asking them to inculcate into the children a respect for public property. The Mayor suggested that a children’s day would be better. The children might be given a tieat once a year in one of the reserves and the lesson imparted there. Motua Gardens was the playground for a large number of houses, and the Council would have to resign itself to the inevitable.

Ct. Aitk-en said (hat the teachers did teach, the children to respect property, and the lessons were taken to heart by a very large majority, but there were always a few who would not listen. Proper supervision was the only remedy. Cr. Williams referred to the damage that was feeing continually done to the fences along the River Bank, and said that it was his opinion that the only way to stop it was to make the parents realise that the children must he kept in check.

Other means of preventing a recurrence were briefly considered, and finally Ci’. Burnett's suggestion was agreed to.