FREE PASSES.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 31 May 1920, Page 2

FREE PASSES.

TEACHERS ON THE RAILWAYS-

"Tho only way to cure the present anomaly is to cut out free railway passes for teachers altogether, stated the Hon. 0. J. Parr, Minister for Education to a pressman at New. Plymouth, when discussing the question of tree passes for school teachers. "At the present time," remarked the Minister, '■■.some private school teachers are allowed free passes to enable thorn to travel on the railways, and the Sfcate teachers naturally object toJ this concession, and ask that they fjhould receive the same privileges. There are two ways of dealing with the anomaly. One is to out oiifc free passes on the railways for teachers altogether, and the other is give all teachers—about 4000 in number—the right t6 the privilege. Obviously, to givs all teachers free railway travelling rights would involve the country in a large and uncertain liability. Such a course, although it has been suggested to me, is quit© impracticable. If such a. priyilego was given, wholesale applications would pour in from teachers who prefer to live in the large centres and travel daily to and from their schools. Such a step as that cannot be considered, if for no other i e<i.son than' tha.t> it is desirable that teachers .should live near their schools among their pupils, and so exert a useful social and _ educational influence in the district."