VISIT TO EXHIBITION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1940, Page 5

VISIT TO EXHIBITION

MASTERTON SCHOOL CHILDREN'S

GREAT DAY.

ARRANGEMENTS WORK SMOOTHLY.

Masterton school children who visited the Centennial Exhibition yesterday had the time of their lives. In charge of 40 teachers, 470 children from Masterton primary schools left town by train at an early hour and arrived at the Exhibition at midday, where, relaxing on the lawn, they were provided with lunch.

The children were divided into parties of ten or twelve to a teacher and made a thorough tour of the Exhibition. Probably the culminating point of happiness for the children was when they were turned loose for half-an-hour in Playland. “It was quite exhilarating to see them,” commented a teacher, who added that it was the biggest task of the day to collect them again, especially from the Crazy House. Assembled once more, the children were conveyed by tram to the Newtown School, where they were served with a hot meal of meat, vegetables and pudding, with tea or milk. Trams then carried the children to the station, where they entrained for Masterton.

On account of difficulties in handling the big train on the Rimutaka Incline, the train was an hour late in arriving at Masterton, which was reached at about 11.30 p.m. Almost every car in Masterton appeared to be at the station to convey the tired but happy -youngsters to their homes.

Thanks to the complete organisation made, all the arrangements worked like clockwork and there was no mishap of any kind. The only sufferer was one little girl who was train sick. The success of the organisation behind the big task in transporting a large number of children to the Exhibition and back again was due to the fine team work and co-operation evident among those responsible. It was a day that will long be remembered by the children.