UNUSUAL CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 600, 3 August 1933, Page 3

UNUSUAL CASE

MOTHER FINED PERMITTING CHILD'S ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL. TAKEN ON TOUR. The story of a mother who, after being refused an exemption certificate, took her daughter away from school to enable her to travel throughout the North Island with the Frank Neil Pantomime Company, was related at the Wellington Magistrate's Court, when Lizzie Bennetts was eharged with failing to send her child to school over a period from July 7 to July 21. The magistrate (Mr. E. Page) fined the defendant 10s and costs. Mr. E. S. Hylton, secretary of the Education Board, said that the defendant wished to obtain an exemption to enable her daughter to travel with the Frank Neil Pantomime Company. The applicant was warned that if she too kthe chilc\ away from ychool she would be liable to prosecution, but in defiance of this she took the girl away from school. Mr. R. P. Smythe, who appeared for the defendant, said that the girl, who was twelve and a half years of age, was in standard six and was advanced in her class. The headmaster of the school had said that she was almost sure of her proficiency certificate this year. Had he been aware that it was in his power to issue a certificate of exemption he would have done so. The headmaster referred the defendant to the education authorities, but the manager of the company assured the defendant that he would obtain exemption for the girl from the proper authorities. The defendant did not receive any warning that she would be liable to prosecution if she took the girl away without a certificate of exemption. As far as she was concerned she was relying on the undertaking given by the manager of the company. The defendant regarded the opportunity of engagement with the pantomime company as an excellent chance for her daughter to improve her knowledge of dancing, whieh she intended

to take up as a profession. The headmaster had said he was sure in his own mind that the defendant had acted innocently in taking the girl away from school. Mr. Hylton said it was quite clear that the defendant tried to get a certificate for exemption at. the outset. She was told that the certificate would not he granted, and she asked what the penalty would he. The headmaster said he was strongly opposed to children being taken away from school under such circumstances.