ORGANIZED PLAY FOR CHILDREN

Southland Times, Issue 24840, 4 September 1942, Page 4

ORGANIZED PLAY FOR CHILDREN

Interest Of City Council The fact that the organized games and play for children, which have been held on city reserves during the present school holidays under the guidance of Government physical welfare officers, are in the nature of a preliminary experiment for a much larger effort on similar lines during the Christmas holidays was mentioned by Mr H. C. Bradley, of ihe Physical Welfare Branch of the Internal Affairs Department, yesterday afternoon, when the Mayor, Mr A. Wachner, accompanied by Cr J. Pickard, chairman of the Reserves Committee of the City Council, and Cr W. Aitchison, visited Otakaro Park to see the children at play. The weather was beautifully fine for the occasion and there were about 300 children present, all evidently enjoying themselves immensely. Addressing the children the Mayor said he was pleased to see so many children enjoying themselves. These organized games would promote friendships which he hoped would endure when the children grew up and thus help to promote a better understanding in the community. Cr Pickard said that the council was pleased that so many boys and girls were taking advantage of the good work of the physical welfare officers, Mrs M. C. Wilson and Mr Bradley. They owed a debt of gratitude to Sir Robert Anderson, who had provided thp playing apparatus in the park. Unfortunately Sir Robert was ill. but he knew that if he could have been there that day he would have been delighted that so many boys and girls were making use of the facilities in the park. At the call of Cr Pickard the children gave cheers for Mrs Wilson and Mr Bradley, and later there were cheers for Sir Robert Anderson and the Mayor. Mrs Wilson said it was hoped to carry through a bigger programme of organized games and play during the Christmas holidays. and she hoped that the City Council would be able to do something to help. "During the Christmas holidays we hope to see up to 1000 children on this ground,” said Mr Bradley. "We hope to have plenty of games and races and everything that children like.”