TEACHERS AND RAILWAY TRAVEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1920, Page 4

TEACHERS AND RAILWAY TRAVEL.

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 25

“The only way to cure the present anomaly is to cut out free railway pasties for teachers altogether,” stated the Hon C. J. Parr, Minister of Education to a reporter to-night when discussing the question of free, passes for school teachers. “At the present time,” remarked the Minister, “some private school teachers are allowed free passes to enable them to travel on the railways, and the State teachers naturally object to this concession, and ask that they should receive the same privileges. There are two ways of dealing with the anomaly. One is to cut out the free passos on the railways lor teachers altogether, and the other is give all teachers—about 4000 in number—the right to the privilege. Obviously, to give all teachers free railway travelling rights would involve the country in a large and uncertain liability. Such a course, although it lias been suggested to me, is quite impracticable. If such a privilege was given wholesale applieations would pour in from teachers who prefer to live in the large centres and travel daily to and from their schools. Such a step as that cannot bo considered, if for no other reason than that it is desirable that teachers should live near their schools among their pupils, and so exert a useful social and educational influence in the ,district.”