Second protest over bus cuts

Press, 18 February 1986, Page 22

Second protest over bus cuts

PA Wellington The Government appears set to face a second round of protests over cuts to the rural school bus service.

A proposal to introduce a standard charge for school transport as a costcutting measure was abandoned last year after it provoked protests in the rural community.

The Government decided instead to put all bus services out to tender, including Education Department routes, in an attempt to reduce the estimated $6O million bill this year. The Wellington Education Board now plans to protest to the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, after learning that a maximum of $5.90 a day for each child would be available

for school transport. That is what is paid as a bursary to chhildren at boarding school. Education boards could previously apply for special permission to provide transport services costing more than that. Board members were angry and dismayed to read in a departmental letter that all services costing more than $5.90 a child would have to be cut accordingly. The board’s general manager, Mr John Lelliott, said the Government appeared to have made a unilateral decision which he described as irresponsible.

The board also voted not to implement instruction to cut services.