EFFECT OF NEW BUS FARES

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 13

EFFECT OF NEW BUS FARES

Children In Isolated Districts NO SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION Copies of letters written by residents of the Seaward Downs and Browns districts declaring that increased bus fares were making it impossible for them to send their children to secondary and technical schools in Invercargill were received from the Southland Education Board and read at the first meeting for the year ,°* TT u Southland Boys’ and Girls High Schools Board held yesterday. It was explained that these residents lived a considerable distance from any railway and the only means of transport for children was by bus. The fares for travelling in the buses had now been increased, making it impossible in most cases to send the children to Invercargill. Some parents were able to send only one of their family ana the remainder were being denied a secondary school education because the combined costs of board and travel could not be met. The chairman (Mr R. M. Strang) said that last year the bus fares were considerably cheaper; in fact, it was thought that bus proprietors had been providing a service for school children at a loss to themselves. ‘‘Certainly, our sympathy is. with the parents and children and we will do what we can to remedy the situation,” Mr Strang said. “These children should not be denied a secondary school education and the board is understanding the position. I think we should approach the bus proprietors and discuss the position with them. We have been receiving a reasonable service at a very low rate in the past and I think we should be quite fair in the matter.”

“I think the matter should be referred to the Government, which, after all, has fixed the prices,” said Mr F. G. Stevenson. “Families in this unfortunate position should receive some financial assistance.” . “We don’t want to hold the stick over the 'bus proprietors,” said the chairman. “We must recognize that the service given by them in other years has been given at a possible loss to themselves. The fare was previously absurdly cheap and the present standard rates are causing some trouble.. On the motion of Mr Stevenson it was decided that the chairman confer with the Education Board and the Southland Technical College Board, who were also concerned, and that it be left in his hands to take whatever action he might consider necessary to afford relief to the parents concerned.