YOUTHFUL MANNERS.

Evening Star, Issue 23693, 28 September 1940, Page 9

YOUTHFUL MANNERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Encouraged by the peculiar brand of Socialism which dominates social life, industrial life, and legislation in New Zealand, the “ do-as-you-darned-well-like ” policy is nowhere more apparent than in the behaviour of young folk to-day. This influence is unfortunately seen at its worst in the trains on the Dunedin-Port Chalmers line conveying scholars to and from the different schools in the city. 1 do not include the girls, whose behaviour seems to be exemplary, but to enter or go near any carriage containing these youthful travellers is like finding oneself amongst a horde of uncivilised howling savages. Through the usually open windows come clouds of tobacco smoke and outbursts of the most foul and disgusting language, for although these special carriages are not for smoking in, cigarettes seem always to be plentiful. At stopiug jilaces a peaceful traveller passing along to a seat is usually a target for some dirty missile from the young hoodlums, and an actual perpetrator can stare you in the face, without a quiver of an eye-lid, and brazenly deny the action. A common form of their sport is to howl insults at station officials, but I anf pleased to know that some action has been taken against this a,t one station. Damaging the carriages and interfering with the train brakes are other forms of their devilry, while free fights amongst themselves occur daily. There is' a handful of older pupils from Port Chalmers end who specialise in acting the bully. The younger and smaller pupils have a terrible time at their hands, and clothes, books, etc., get ‘torn to shreds. Many complaints would be made at schools, but young boys plead with their parents not to make complaints because of the threats of further violence and abuse, and so the outrageous behaviour is allowed to go unreported. . 1 write this in the hope that it will catch the eves of some of the parents of these boys, who thereby may be induced to act, and act quickly, before some really serious trouble arises.—-1 am, etc., September 28. Pour Line.