CHILDREN'S TRANSPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 10

CHILDREN'S TRANSPORT.

PUKEKOHE SCHOOL PROBLEM. REQUEST TO MINISTER. Tho Minister of Education, tho Hon. R. Masters, met a deputation from the I'ukekohc Technical High School yesterday afternoon, which asked for permission to utilise its accumulated funds to subsidise bus services transporting children from outlying districts to the school. The chairman of the Bombay school committee, Mr. A. Best, emphasised that, owing to thi! dillicult times, many parents in his district could not afford to pay the cost of transport for their children. As a result of the withdrawal of the subsidy the bus service could not be continued. Some of tho children found it cheaper to travel to Pokeno to catch a train for Pukekoho.

Mr. J. B. Sim and Mr. ,T. N. Massey, M.P., supported the request.. The principal, Mr. W. F. J. Mtinro, pointed out that the district north and south was well served by rail, but cast and west the only service was by means of buses. As tho board was not allowed to pay a subsidy on the cost of bus fares the school had lost about forty pupils whose parents desired to give them a post-primary education, but could not afford transport costs. The Minister said be had to view the fund as it affected other schools. High school boards were unable to use funds at their disposal for subsidising the transport of pupils, and there should bo no differentiation. He found it difficult to understand why the question had come from the Pukekoho district and no other. Regarding the board's accumulated fund, ho stated that with reduced capitation the board would require all available money for other expenditure. In conclusion, the intimated that he would consider the matter on his return to Wellington.