Greymouth

New Zealand Tablet, 23 August 1906, Page 15

Grey mouth

The Hon. A. R. Guinness was waited on yesterday morning (says the l Grey River Argus,' August 16) by a. deputation consisting of Very Rev. Dean Uarew and a, number of gentlemen interested in the subject of free passes on the Government railways to scholars from the country -districts attending the convent and the Catholic High School in this town. Dean Carew, in placing the matter before Mr Guinness, read a letter from the Mother Superior to the effect that during the past three years children were allowed to travel fre« on the railways to the Catholic High School at Gieymouth just as to other schools but quite recently the authoriti.-s had withdrawn this concession and granted it only to scholars attending District High Schools and technical classes/ As showing; that similar subjects aie taught at the Oatholic secondary schools to those taught at District High Schools the writer stated tliat seven pupils from the Catholic school had sat for matriculation and seven for the civil service examinations, and all without exception had passed. The Dean asked that Mr. Guinness should endeavor to hiava scholars attending the CathoMc High School placed on tlie same footing as regards free railway travelling as those attending District High Schools and technical classes. Another member of the deputation said that the new regulation cam* into force as far as he knew in February last, whilst he understood that the Education Department had declined to recognise claims made by the Railway Department for free passes granted scholars attending the Oatholic school, Grey mouth, during the September gaiter of 1905. In consequence the Hailway Department were attempting to recover the amounts from the parents of Uie scholars. The clauses in the new regulation (No. 28) affecting the question were stated to be the following ■— ' (S) All pupils jiot over 10 years of age who" arc Holders of scholarships tenable at a District High School or secondary school as defined by the Education Act (4) All pupils not over 19 years of age who are holders of free places tenable at a District High School r . a ,nnf ec ? udary scht)ol as defined by the Education Act, 1904, to enable: them to attend the nearest school at which such free places are tenable. ' (5) The holders of free places tenable at a technical class recognised under the regulations for Manual and Technical Instruction. 1 (6) AH pupils on the 101 lof a public primary, secondary school or Disliict High School travelling to attend school classes recognised under the regulations for Manual and Technical Instruction and held at centres especially equipped for the purpose.' These were the scholars to whom free passes on the railways could bp issued under the regulation. The regulation superseded by the new one simply provided that scholars under 15 years of age travelling to any place for secondary education were entitled to free passes it was the restoration of the provision of this regulation the deputation wished effected Dean Carew also brought under Mr. Guinness's notice the fact that teachers of Catholic schools travelling from Greymouth to Brunner to give instruction had h P £?i. i! ares On the railw ay. He urged that they should be allowed to travel free. Mr. Guinness, replying, said the matter was one in which he took great interest, and it was due to his efforts that m ISBS free passes on the railways were granted children attending primary schools. He had always urged that the same concession should be given scholars attending all classes of schools, colleges, and universities He would bring the matter before the J£ *ZJ^\ he r , e u ached Welli ngton, and do all in his power to have the regulation altered in the direction desired. He also agreed with Dean Carew that catholic teachers travelling to give instruction should be given free passes, and would also bring that matter before the 'Minister.