SCHOOL RAILWAY TICKETS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 6

SCHOOL RAILWAY TICKETS

A MISCONCEPTION REMOVED. Replying to a deputation introduced by, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., on tho question of the granting of free school season tickets by railway, a mattor which has given rise to some comment, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, yesterday explained that in conformity with tho provisions of the Education Act re : lating to compulsory attendance, tlid Education Department grants free school season tickets to children under ten years' of age, where the distance between tho child's home and the school by the nearest route is two miles or over, and in the case of children over ten years of age, where the distance is three miles or over. The Education. Department reimburses the Railway Department for tho cost of such tickets; a uniform rate being fixed for same for distances up to ten miles. Judging from the number, of communications recently received on this question, staid Mr. Hanan, some misconception appears to exist respecting the matter, it being assumed that the distances quoted above are tho actual distances children required to travel by rail before being entitled to free tickets.- Such, liowever, is not tho case. The minimum distance is computed between the child's homo'and tho school,'so that it is possible for freo rickets to be issued to a child living two or Hireo miles (as the case may be) from school, although the actual distance to. bo travelled by rail may be, for instance, only half a mile. Wliore it can be proved to tlie satisfaction of my Department that exceptional circumstances exist, and the case is not covered bv tho regulations, each application for free railway nnsses is, remarked tho Minister, considered on its merits.