CONVEYANCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17583, 29 May 1919, Page 6

CONVEYANCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

GOVERNMENT ASKED TO PAY

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, May 28

A request was placed by a deputation before the Minister of Education to-day for the payment by tie Government of conveyance allowance to pupils who travel by coach or other vehicle to attend technical or secondary schools, in other words for the same allowances as are payable in the case of pupils attending public schools, including secondary department district high schools. It was pointed out that pupils who travel by rail are conveyed free to secondary schools and technical high schools, and therefore pupils using other means of conveyance should be similarly treated. The Minister said that last year £3503 was paid for conveyance of pupils by rail to secondary schools, £1144 to district high schools, and £31.39 t^ technical schools. It would be impossible without making special inquiry, so his Department advised him, to estimate the cost of paying conveyance allowance to pupils who travel by other means to secondary and technical high schools. Roughly speaking he was disposed to think that £5000 or £6000 annually would be required. With reference to the claim that boarding allowance of say ss. per week should be made, this item would'run into a very large sum, about £23,000 or £25,000 annually. To agree to these two proposals to extend conveyance and boarding allowances to pupils of secondary and technical high schools would mean that an additional ,3am of not less than £28,000 or £31,000 would have to be found each year. The two proposals made were a subject of a very large question* for consideration. He would go into the matter further with his Department with a view to coming to a conclusion on the matter.