TRIANGULAR WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1933, Page 7

TRIANGULAR WAR

CHILDREN AGAINST PARENTS

A three-cornered war in which the vicar, the oldest inhabitants, mothers and children are involved, has disturbed the centuries-old peace enjoyed by tho secluded village of Shawbury, in Shropshire, The trouble was started by the ‘Salop County Council Elementary Education Department’s offer, to supply the children with bicycles to ride to the nearest school, six miles away, instead of hiring a bus to take them there. Spurred on by the oldest inhabitant, Hvbo ' canvassed . the .village, urging action against “them new-fangled road terrors,” the mothers of the village held indignation meetings, conducted by the vicar, to protest against the proposed granting of bicycles. The children, frantic with joyous excitement at the prospect of being given brand new cycles, sided wholeheartedly with the Education ‘Committee. They held meetings of their own and even grouped themselves outside the parish hall to heckle their parents. The mothers say the cycles are dangerous. The children protest that their parents are old-fashioned, and the Education Committee complain of the cost of £7OO a year required to take the children to school by bus. The vica r ultimately received a letter of surrender from the Education- Committee, which he pinned up on- the church notice board. But some people avow that mow 'that the children’s minds have been fired by thoughts of bicycles the Education Committee will not only have to take them to school •by bus but give them also cycles to restore the former peace of Shawbury.