FLATS FOR BOYS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2172, 10 June 1914, Page 9

FLATS FOR BOYS

QUEER REVOLT IN VIENNA. Tlio Austrian Government ' recently took strong action against a curiou3 and revolutionary movement among the boys of Vienna 011 the ground that it was dangerous to the State. For some years a Culture Club" has existed privately among the boys, but the membership became so large that tho president of the club applied to the Government for. permission tp put the club for boys Jegal. basis, and-.to-, found a -.magazine. A. copy of, the proposed statutes was laid beforo th? Homo, Office and Board of i Education'. The. officials received a riido shock. The statutes (says the Vienna correspondent- of the ' Daily Mail") staggered tliem. •

Statute No. 1 calmly provided Tor tlio abolition of the Home. Members of tho club wero enjoined to "put pressure" on their parents so as to obtain flats for themselves. Other items on tho boys' programme _ were Election of school teachers. Dismissal of unpopular teachers. Suggestions invited for up-to-dato substitutes for such institutions as tho Home and the school. Tlifso and even more startling proposals horrified the officials. A conference was hurriedly called. The Minister of Education, who was 011 a holiday, wais summoned to Vienna. The existing club was raided and closed hecauso further evidence of tho unblushing effrontery of the movement was found. The publication of a magazine was forbidden. Tho Minister of Education knew oilly too well what the boys meant by "putting pressure" on their parents. Vienna parents are often bullied into acceding to the wishes of their children by threats of suicide. ,