BAD BOYS.

Shannon News, 5 July 1921, Page 3

BAD BOYS.

HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS CAUSE j TROUBLE. > A correspondent writes: “The children travelling to and . from Palmerston to attend the High School there have for some»time past been causing a good deaHff anxiety to the railway officials and also considerable annoyance to the travelling public, by reason of their noisy behaviour and want of courtesy to the officials. It is understood that the Railway Department, on more than one occasion, has written to the school authorities about the matter, but evidently they -are unable to instil in the young people a sense of public duty that will . have effect «when they are out of the school precincts. It appears, therefore, that there is something jacking in the home training of the children when they will' go to the extent of cutting carriage cushions, breaking windows .and making it necessary at times for a constable, to travel on the train. It is to be hoped tjiat parents will do what they can to remedy the trouble, both for the sake of the children and the public generally.” A News representative made independent inquiries as to. the circumstances referred to in the above paragraph, and was informed that'the statements in alto were by no means overdrawn, and .that it was not only Shannon pupils who were to blame. Windows were frequently broken in the'‘carriages, and it seemed to be thought that as long as the damage was paid for no great amount of harm' was done. It was stated that the High School authorities had now appoint ed prefects from amongst the boys'fra veiling daily, to endeavour to improve a condition of things that was a reproach to all concerned. The opinion was . very strongly expressed that it was time the parents of the lads knew about these escapades and took a. hand in the game* j Another gentleman spoke with much anxiety of a .practice indulged, in at Linton., The slow train pulled on to the loop line, there to give the road to the Auckland express. Frequently the boys left their train and indulged in sky-larking across the main line. Our informant stated that, remembering the pace at which the express raced he would not,be surprised to \ hear of a fatality at Linton unless this thoughtless practice was discontinued..