EDUCATION AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22098, 2 May 1935, Page 13

EDUCATION AFFAIRS

SAFETY OF SCHOOL BUSES USE OF BRITISH MATERIALS The safety of buses used in conveying children to school was commented on in a memorandum received from thfe Education Department at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday. It stated that in the course of an inquiry into a recent fatal accident to a child who fell out of a school bus it was found that the vehicle was not fitted with a door on the passengers' entrance. The cause of the accident was not, in this case, attributed to failure to provide a door, but the department was of the opinion that if doors were fitted in all cases to school buses the risk of accidents would be lessened. It was requested that contractors be informed that no vehicle which was not equipped with doors at all entrances would be considered satisfactory for the conveyance of school children,

Advice also was received from the department regarding the grar.ting of preference to British and New Zealand goods. For some time past controlling educational authorities had had the benefits of Government contracts extended to them with regard to the purchase of certain requirements. The Stores Control Board now advised that, where this concession was being availed of, boards were expected to conform to the Government's policy of giving preference, where possible, to British or New Zealand manufacturers w:hen purchasing goods not included in any current contract. It was decided to act accordinglj 7 . Regarding a request from, the Tauranga school committee for tiio reinstatement of subsidies on voluntary contributions, the department stated that the request would receive careful consideration, although it would probably not be possible to restore subsidies at the present time. Approval was received from the department of the consolidation, of the Mataitai school with the Clevedon school, the extension of the Ness Valley conveyance service to Mataitai being authorisedNotification was received of grants for the acquisition of a site and the erection of a school building at Taipuha Station, Whangarei, and for additional accommodation at the Putaruru District High School.