FREE TRANSPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 72, 7 January 1936, Page 6

FREE TRANSPORT

SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS.

A REQUEST FROM SPRINGBURN. RESOLUTION BY HOUSEHOLDERS A meeting of householders was held in the Springburn School last evening to further the efforts for procuring free transport for secondary school children. There was an attendance of nineteen. including representatives from Mount Somers, Bushide, Staveley and Ashburton Forks. Mr L. G. McFarlane was in the chair. The Rev. A. A. C. Lion gave a resume of the efforts to date, saying it was fairly widely recognised that the local people had a case in requesting free transport, especially as there was once a train service. Local people were in the position of having to pay taxes for education, yet their children were debarred from secondary education unless the parents paid the transport. He suggested a 'bus service starting at Mount Somers and going via Springburn through Ashburton Forks, and moved a motion in that direction. Mr J. A. Mears moved that no route be mentioned when the request for free transport be made. This was seconded and carried. It was mentioned that a national petition was being circulated urging free transport. An estimate of £SOO per year for a 'bus service was given, and that possibly 70 to 80 children Would be available.

Mr G. Fittock said he thought that asking for free transport for children irrespective of where they lived was too big a thing. ' Mr Lion: Surely if a child is brilliant enough to pass examinations the Government should give him the same opportunities as if he lived on a 'bus route or in town.

Finally the following motion was moved and carried: "That this meeting of householders requests the Minister of Education to place before Cabinet a petition for free transport of children entitled to secondary education at Ashburton."