DANGER TO CHILDREN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 343, 2 May 1928, Page 13

DANGER TO CHILDREN

SCHOOL CONVEYANCES OVERCROWDING IN COUNTRY CONDEMNED Dangerous overcrowding of children in vehicles carrying them to and from school and the likelihood of a smash were discussed by the Education Board to-day. “It is nothing short of a miracle that something has not happened,” said Mr. J. Boddie. “I feel very uneasy in my mind about it.” He said that he referred particularly to the arrangements at Te Kuiti, where he had seen a vehicle into which not another single child could have been packed. Headmasters of Ngatea and Turua schools had written stating that the vehicles had been overcrowded through the contractor carrying children not eligible for conveyance. “Day by day we are appalled by accidents on the roads,” said Mr. H. S. W. King, “and surely it is a dangerous practice to wait until a smash comes. It is a responsibility on the teachers to see that the vehicles are not overcrowded. We should notify them of their legal position.” The secretary said that no payment was made to contractors unless the head teacher had certified that the contract was carried out satisfactorily. The chairman, Mr. A. Burns, said that the board wanted to prevent an accident. Teachers should be asked to report a breach of contract. Occasionally when the contractor was paid in a lump sum he could carry as many as he liked. Mr. Brownlee: Suppose there was an accident and no overcrowding. Who would be responsible? The Chairman: The contractor. Mr. S. B. Sims said that there should be a clause in the contract requiring the contractor to end arid start his journeys at the school. “We’ve got a great responsibility, and we must meet it,” said Mr. Burns. It was decided to advise teachers to see that contracts were obeyed and that there was no overcrowding.