STATE MOTOR SERVICE.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15357, 4 October 1923, Page 6

STATE MOTOR SERVICE.

TO BRING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. . i 'MINISTER AND RURAL EDUCATION. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A hint, that the State might have to embark in the motor transport business in a small way, in order to get children in rural districts to school, was made by the Minister of Educa"ion (Hon G. J. Parr) at the Conference of school inspectors last evening. The Minister said he earnestly wished to ir/Jprove rural school organisation. It was, of course, impossible to bring all the advantages of higher education which could be got in a large city into .every backblock village, but the placing of a group of rural schools under a supervising organising teacher might be tried, or, as an alternative, the placing of a group of schools under the control of a head teacher of a central or consolidated school. " I am satisfied," said the Minister, " that the consolidated school will probably prove the best and most economical method of dealing with the rural education problem, although we have to recognise that consolidation in some cases would be more expensive and might result in very little increase in efficiency. What I desire is to be able to bring the children of a remote district to a central school. I may ask the country to close down certain schools in order to do this. One district offers excellent opportunities and extra building expense will not be involved in that district. If we did not consolidate we would have to erect two new schools. We will be able to bring in 70 or 80 children there. Therefore, I am encouraged to persevere with the consolidated idea. Some expense may be involved, because we will have to have motor transport. It is difficult at times to get a good contract for motor carriage, and the alternate e, is for the Department to own three or four motor cars, operating them themselves. I am not keen about that; I would prefer to leave it to private enterprise. It may be a slightly increased expense, but something will have to be done."