SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 74, 19 May 1944, Page 5

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

OVERCROWDED BUS MENACE COUNTY DELEGATES MEET ( A definite effort to overcome the drastic overcrowding of the ■ school buses serving the Rangitai'ki and adjacent areas, took the form of a combined meeting of delegates, convened by the Whakatane County Council last Friday. Mr J. L. Burnett presided, and speakers from Wai'mana, Taneatua,. Otakiri, Ed'gecumbe, Thornton, Matata and' Whakatane school committees were present. The whole question was thoroughly ventilated, and finally referred back to a further meeting of joint committees, with a recommendation that at least one more bus be procured for service on the Plains. Mr J. H. B. Warner, Chairman •of. the Whakatane School Committee, said that he particularly wanted t$ shield the bus proprietors from any unjust criticism. They were as conscious as anybody of the serious State of overcrowding which existed, and were doing their best to • cope with it, yet they had been critic cised and maligned. Position Outlined Mr J. W. Wilson, Secretary of the Whakatane School Committee, then outlined what had been done to date in order to relieve the situation. In his opinion the only solution to really ease the situation, was the establishment of departmental buses with teacher drivers. They !had been in touch with the department and had been assured that it was its intention to do this when circumstances permitted. In the meantime, they had been repeatedly ■ asked to put up with the circum* ;stances as they obtained. He paid tribute to the. co-operation of the 'County Inspector who had assisted fln drafting out a plan to run four routes as against, the present three. To put this into practice.it would be necessary to- purchase one more us to prevent overcrowding. He ibriefly sketched each route. At pre.sent, the service which gave them imost concern was that mentioned -in the BEACON covering the Matata, JSdgecumbe and Whakatane route. This covered a 45-mile trip, and the bus was licensed to carry 43 children. It carried regularly, however, an average of 75. The question had 'been taken up by the Whakatane committee with the Education Board, but they had got exactly nowhere; it appeared, however, that if they could secure , one more bus, their difficulties would be; largely •overcome.

Taneatua's Stand Mr C. Brown (Taneatua) outlined the struggle which the residents of White Pine Bush had had to institute the present service for their children. This was most satisfactory, and any attempt to vary or interfere with it in any way would not 'he tolerated by Taneatua. Whilst they were prepared to help with any general improvement, they would naturally resent this being effected at. their expense. Taneatua would very definitely oppose any alteration of their existing service. Mr Wilson gave the assurance that there would be no deviation, from the existing Taneatua service without consulting the Taneatua committee regarding the time, the route to be followed, and the driver. Secondary School at Otakiri Speaking for Oncpu and Otakiri, Mr Leslie said that his committee agreed that any alteration must bo only of a temporary nature. It was very obvious to any who had rtudicd the position that a secondary school should be established at Otakiri. When the department raised the school leaving age to fifteen, it must have seen the necessity for new secondary schools, and in an age where no working man was expected to work more, than eight hours per day it was ridiculous to ask children to put in ten hours and more. A secondary school at Otakiri would overcome the bus question, and the long distance to be covered. Mr Withy said the real problem of overcrowding commenced at Matata where the bus often left that township with a full load. Children were picked up at Awakaponga, and after that, 44 more were expected to get in. They were simply packed in like sardines, and if anything happened, they would not have a hope. A Desperate Position Mr W. Hunter agreed that the position was so desperate that Edgecumbe parents wexe seriously considering keeping their children at home. Mr Haultain of Awakeri, contended that the meeting was trying to deal with a problem which was too big. To expect a single service to cater for passengers, primary and secondary school children was out of the question, and could never be satisfactory. The chairman stated that the matter had come before the County Council as the direct licensing authority. It was realised how hopeless(Continued in. next column)

Iy overcrowded were the buses, and the council was willing to give the utmost co-operation by way of overcoming it. Mr Haultain then moved that the matter of school accommodation and bus route be referred back to the school committees and the bus drivers for consideration., and that theii decision be brought before the council for consideration and support. This was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.