VISIT OF THE NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 245, 10 July 1919, Page 4

VISIT OF THE NEW ZEALAND

NO TRAINS FOR CHILDREN. ! A request for trains for tho carriage of school children by special trains fiom the country districts into "Wellington on the occasion of the visit of the New Zealand ami Admiral Jellicoe was made hy tho Navy Lcnguo Entertainment Committee yesterday to tho -Minister of Education (the Hon. J". A. Hanan). The committee also asked that tho Government Rive the lenguo some assistance in the entertainment of the children.

The Mayor (Mr. J". P. Luke, M.l'.) introduced the deputation. Mr. 11. DarrocTi spoke of the educational benefit to be derived by school children, and especially by country children, from a visit of inspection to such a ship as H.M.S. New Zealand, a Kliip with .111 honourable war record. It seemed strange that while tho Government had spent ,£12.(100 on tho entertainment of the children on tho last occasion ou whioh the ship visited this country, it was not now proposed that anything should be spent with this object. Mr. 11. F. von Haast suggested that in view of thp unsatisfactory train services raotor-cavs might be employed to bring the children to Wellington from near-by districts. .

The Minister, replying, said that ho agreed that the children might derive great benefit from a visit: to the ship, but the coal, situation was such as to place out of consideration any schemo to bring children to Wellington by train. Kven on Peace Day, the greatest, day in tire history of the world, it would not bo possible to run trains, lie did not think that the position would have altered very much by the time that tho New Zealand arrived. Tho Minister pointed out also that if the Government agreed to fxpond money on tho entertainment of children in Wellington, it would mean that similar assistance would have to he given all over New Zealand, and this would bo very costly indeed.