CONVEYANCE OF PUPILS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25172, 12 March 1943, Page 5

CONVEYANCE OF PUPILS

MINISTER’S REPLY DEEMED UNSATISFACTORY The Waitaki High Schools’ Board of Governors yesterday considered as unsatisfactory the reply of the Minister ot Education, Mr H. G. R. Mason, to its protest against the general policy of free conveyance of children to denominational schools, while pupils attending intermediate schools were denied the same privilege. The-Minister stated that the rights of non-State school children travelling on the Tokarahi service arose from a definite arrangement made when the bus service took the place of the railway service. They could not, therefore, be disturbed or made the basis of comparison so far as the Kakanui, Hampden, or Glenavy services were concerned. Non-State pupils were eligible for conveyance only if they were eligible by reason of the distance of their homes from the nearest State school, primary or post-primary, according to the status of the pupils, and only if, in addition, there was accommodation available for them on buses. With regard to pupils desiring to attend intermediate schools, their eligibility was determined by whether or not they were resident in the contributing school districts. If they were resident within such districts they would be eligible for conveyance if their homes were more than three miles from intermediate schools. Mr Kirkness said the reply -was unsatisfactory, and the board should appeal to Mr A. H. Nordmeyer to take the matter up. He felt that intermediate schools were .being penalised, and did not see why any denominational school should get preference over pupils attending intermediate schools. He had no desire to upset the existing arrangements, but he wanted equal facilities for pupils attending intermediate schools. Mr Cooper said they asked for equal facilities for all. It was not equitable that boys and girls should be barred from intermediate schools because of the restrictions of the facilities of travel. The board decided to meet Mr Nordmeyer as a deputation with Mr Milner and Miss Wilson over the week-end. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister accordingly.