PLAY ASSOCIATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 14

PLAY ASSOCIATION

A VALUABLE WORK BUILDING UP CHARACTER r PHAT fewer children come before the court in districts where there are organised play areas iis the experience of child welfare officers. This state of affairs must be encouraging to members of the Auckland Play Association, who, by forming playing areas in the city and organising healthful recreation for the children, seek to build up both the physique and character of the future citizens. Formed four months ago, the Auckland Play and Recreation Association’s Community Club at Freeman’s Bay has now over 400 children in its ranks. An extension of this useful work was made when a band of welfare workers established a community club in the old Napier Street School. The Play Association to the layman’s mind conveys the idea that this organisation exists only to see that the boys and girls of the above district have organised games and other sports to occupy their after-school hours, but a little insight into the big; work it is doing conveys an idea of the national work that it has been carrying out. USEFUL HOBBIES The girls have been catered for on two nights of the week and the boys on three nights, as well as organised games, physical drill and other exercises that tend to build up boys and girls; of the right constitution, their minds and thoughts have also been ex€‘rcised in various handcrafts. The girls are taught such crafts that will become useful to them as the years go on. As far as the boys are concerned, they have their various classes in woodwork, joinery and other lines which will tend, in the course of time, to make them useful citizens and a national asset. The Napier Street Schools will be in course of demolition before the end of the year, and it is the aim of this association, of which the lady magistrate, Mrs. Fernier, is president to build a permanent school in this district so that the boys and girls will have, for all time, a Community Club in their mic.st. AN ITALIAN FAIR A gigantic fair entitled “Sunny Italy” has been organised to take place this month, from October 22 to October 29, in the Drill Hall, Rutland Street, which has kindly been placed at their disposal by the Defence authorities free of charge. There has been a magnificent response for workers from all parts of the Auckland district and hundreds of women have devoted months in preparing various articles for the stalls. Various bodies have generously donated their services to make it a big success. Seven bands have given their services during the fair. There will be ballroom dancing afternoon and evening, and jazzing competitions have been arranged. All the side-shows that are an adjunct to a fair of this description will be there.

The occasion is a worthy one and it i« hoped that the magnificent work of t le Play Association will be rewarded on this occasion.