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Obligation to attend school.
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4.—(1) The parent of every child to whom this Act applies shall, unless there is a reasonable excuse for not so doing, cause the child to attend a national or other suitable school on every day on which such school is open for secular instruction and for such time on every such day as shall be prescribed or sanctioned by the Minister in respect of such day.
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(2) Any of the following shall be a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with this section, that is to say:—
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(a) that the child has been prevented from attending school by the sickness of the child;
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(b) that the child is receiving suitable elementary education in some manner other than by attending a national or other suitable school;
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(c) that there is not a national or other suitable school accessible to the child which the child can attend and to which the parent of the child does not object on religious grounds to send the child;
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(d) that the child has been prevented from attending school by some other sufficient cause.
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(3) Until the year 1936 the following shall also be a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with this section on not more than ten days during the period beginning on the 17th day of March and ending on the 15th day of May next following in any year in respect of a child who has attained the age of twelve years, that is to say, that the child has been prevented from attending school by reason of his having been engaged in light agricultural work for his parent on his parent's land.
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(4) Until the year 1936 the following shall also be a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with this section on not more than ten days during the period beginning on the 1st day of August and ending on the 15th day of October next following in any year in respect of a child who has attained the age of twelve years, that is to say, that the child has been prevented from attending school by reason of his having been engaged in light agricultural work for his parent on his parent's land.
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(5) A school shall be deemed to be accessible to a child for the purposes of this section if, but only if, either:—
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(a) the school is situate, in the case of a child who has not attained the age of ten years, within two miles measured from the child's residence along the shortest way lawfully and conveniently available for him or, in the case of a child who has attained the age of ten years within three miles similarly measured; or
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(b) there is a suitable means of conveyance to the school available for the child from a point within a reasonable distance from the child's residence.
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