VILLAGE PLAYGROUNDS.
[To TIIR EDITOR OY TILE "BPIIOTATOR.1
Sin,—The writer of the article on " Village Playgrounds" in the issue of February 13th is to be congratulated upon the fact that be has brought forward a subject of peculiar interest to those who have to do with the children living in villages, and especially in villages where the Enclosure Acts have been put into complete operation.
This place, which lies upon the high road between Birming- ham and Warwick, is a case in point. All the common lands have been enclosed, and until recently the children were com- pelled to play their games either in the school playground or on the roads. The school playground is very small, and the roads, owing to the large increase in motor traffic, are dangerous; so that practically there was nowhere for the children to play unless they invaded the property of private individuals, and caused trouble in consequence. Fortunately for all concerned, a field of about three acres came into the market, and this was purchased at a high figure; but I am glad to say the money required has gradually come in, hail now we are within a reasonable distance of real possession. The field is the children's field, and we wish that it should be secured, as far as possible, to the children for ever, so that it may be there for theta to use whether they use it or not. We do not wish that in the future it should be possible for any one to say: " Here is a field; let us use that for the new school," or the parish room, or whatever may be the required building. Perhaps one of your readers, or the writer of the article, would be able to suggest the best way in which our object may be attained. In these days it seems that trusts are easily diverted to meet the more pressing demands of the moment, and it is no encouragement to people who undertake public work of this kind to feel that they cannot look into the future with security and contentment and know for certain that the playground will remain a playground.
At the present moment the laud is conveyed to me, and in consequence I have the privilege of paying a tax upon it, as though it were in my own occupation and used for agricultural purposes. This is the assistance which the authorities give to those who try to remedy one of the greatest evils of village life, and who seek to remove the children from the danger of playing upon the public highways. But on the other hand we have the satisfaction of knowing that the children appreciate the boon conferred upon them, and we look forward to the time when they shall have learnt to regard the field as their own, to be used how and when they please.—I am,
[Our correspondent is most wise to take precautions against the field being some day appropriated for utilitarian objects or to save the rates. In our opinion, the best plan would be to ask the National Trust (25 Victoria Street, S.W.)--a chartered corporation which cannot break up—to take over the field and hold it for the enjoyment of the public for ever. If for any reason this seems unsuitable, the Parish Council has, we believe, power to hold land for public objects. Which- ever plan is adopted, let the field be called " The Playing Field," " The Children's Ground," or some such name. Further, let a big strong stone be set up in it with a Clear- cut inscription saying when and for what purpose the hind was secured, and stating that it is not to be used for any purposes that will defeat this object.—En. Spectator.]
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