TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18813, 13 September 1924, Page 12

TRAVELLING TO SCHOOL.

FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN.

EXTENSION LIMITED BY COST.

fß* TELEGBAPH-—BPECIAI. BEPOBTER.J WELLINGTON. Friday. " The cost of conveying children to school has now grown to £45,000 a year," stated the Minister for Education. Hon. C. J. Parr, in the House of Representatives this afternoon.

Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) had complained that the department discriminated between secondary school children who were fortunate enough to live near a railway line, and those who were not. The former were' carried to school free, but the latter were not. He knew of farmers who had sold or leased their properties and taken to labouring work in town for some years, in order that their children imight have secondary education. In many districts there were good roads and efficient bus services which charged lower fares than the railways, yet the department would not assist children to travel by them. Mr. R. P. Hudson (Motueka) said ho thought it hardly fair that the department should spend money on the conveyance of children who had the advantage of good roads, but gave no assistance to those who had to travel over bad roads or bush tracks. No subsidies were given to those who had to ride bicyclesto and from school. The Minister, Hon. C. J. Parr, caused some amusement by saying that the conveyance of children to school at Government expense had been introduced by his predecessor, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, and had given a good deal cf trouble ever since. Primary school children were conveyed in a number of ways, and secondary school children were allowed to travel free by rail. The member for Taranaki suggested that they should be carried also by road. In Sir. Hanan's day the vote had been £10,000 to £15,000 a year. Now it had grown to £45,000. There was nothing in principle against the extension of tho system for the benefit of secondary school children. The only objection waa one of expense. The department last year spent £4000 in subsidising the provision of private means of transport, such as horses, for children to reach schooL