SAFETY OF BUSES

Evening Star, Issue 22445, 16 September 1936, Page 8

SAFETY OF BUSES

EDUCATIONIST’S UNFOUNDED CONCERN FEELING AT BOARD MEETING Disregarding early hints that he was raising a “ mare’s nest,” Mr W, M. Cooper persisted in urging the Otago Education Board to-day to take steps to investigate the safety of all conveyances used for ■ the transport of school children. After a discussion in which the chairman and other members showed impatience with the_ country member’s attitude, and advised him to peruse the files of correspondence concerning the Owaka conveyance, Mr Cooper pleaded that he was not aware of the full facts. Referring to a letter from Owaka published in the Press, Sir Cooper suggested that the board s officers should make ah examination of all conveyances. It was alleged. that 18 children were being carried in a bus fit for the carriage of five or sis. Mr D. C. Cameron; It is an anonymous letter. ' Mr Cooper; But we should show that the board is not neglecting its duty. “You read the board’s correspondence and you will get all you want,’ • advised Mr James Wallace (chairman). , Mr Cooper: It is my duty to see that the children are protected. If the statement in the letter is not correct it should be denied. “I think you are very foolish to bring it up,” remarked Mr Wallace. “It appears to. me. to be a private vendetta down there between ■ two parties. The board has come to a certain decision and you should know it as well as I do/ The file of the correspondence is open to every member. The Owaka people have gone past the board and have decided! to appeal to the Minister and we are letting the local authority take a hand in it?” asked Mr Cooper. Mr Wallace: Every vehicle has been passed by the local authorities. Some of them are not very “ flash,” but they are all safe.” . ’ “ Have the local transport authorities decided that?” asked Mr Cower. Mr Wallace: We have heard nothing to the contrary. “ Have you heard that consider the conveyances to be safe? persisted Mr Cooper. . ■ . , “ I am not going to be interrogated by Mr Cooper or anybody else, declared' Mr Wallace vehemently. ‘We have reached a decision and we should wait till we get advice from the Minister, I think that if Mr Cooper had gone to the secretary and asked for information he would not have mentioned the subject here to-day.” ’ “ I brought the matter up as a duty, knowing as I do the anxiety parents have when their children are travelling to and fro by bus,” explained the Oamaru member. “ I felt it was my duty to see that the whole matter was ventilated. If there is nothing in it I am satisfied.” Mr Cameron said it was a pitv that Mr Cooper had' raised the question in open board. He explained the negotiations to date and said the hoard had been over-ridden by the committee and would now wait till the Minister had made full inquiries. Mr Cooper: I was not aware of what had taken place. “ Look through the files. Me Cooper,”, was Mr D. T. Fleming’s advice.