SCHOOL EXCURSIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 122, 4 March 1926, Page 4

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS.

MATTER OF GUARANTEE. Stupid Regulation Abolished. People are beginning to realise that the Prime Minister’s slogan of “ more business in Government ” is more than an election catch-cry, and that / the Hon. J. G. Coates was very much. ' in earnest when he announced his determination of following such a policy, writes the Independent, Cambridge. Evidences of tins welcome change of affairs have been furnished in various State departments. Another instance has just been brought to our notice in regard to the Railway Department. Some little time ago, when the Cambridge District High School Committee organised a school excursion to ’> Rotorua, the committee was called upon to furnish a guarantee of £lO6, cash in advace, for the trip. This was done. Tickets were then issued to the value of £135. Despite this fact the Railway Department demanded the payment of this sum also, in advance, and would not allow the amount already paid in to be deducted. Representations were made to the railway officers that such a demand was out of all reason, but it was found that the regulations made such a procedure 1 absolutely necessary, and, of course, a railway regulation has come to be looked upon as inexorable as the laws of the Medes and the Persians. Consequently, the sum guaranteed (£106) | was advanced privately by the chairman of the School Committee (Mr. A. N. Macky), in addition to the £135 for tickets. Of course the money was refunded some little time after. The local School Committee, recognising the iniquity of such a regulation, and the fact that it would act as a deterrent to other schools desirous of arranging excursions, made representa- | tions to the Railway Department, with the pleasing- result that the obnoxious regulation has now been cancelled. We understand that the Department has even gone further, and decided that in future when a school excursion is w nted, and a responsible school com--1 mit tee gives a written guarantee to cover the cost of same, provided the local stationmaster is satisfied regarding the prospects of the excursion, the authorities will grant the special train without the actual calling up of the guarantee in cash. Tliis is particularly gratifying, not only because of the removal of a ridiculous regulation, and rendering- future excursions much more easily arranged, but also as another practical demonstration of the change for the better that is being brought about in the management of our railways.