FROM THE ARCHIVES: Like sardines in a Z-van

For the month of November, we will be taking a look back at some of the stories making headlines 25 years ago in 1990.

IT WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD, a Z-van licensed to carry three passengers moving off from a secondary school yesterday with more than 30 passengers.

Reporter Maria Bradshaw and photographer Charles Grant were alerted to this event, which they were told takes place daily, and journeyed to the St George Valley to see it for themselves.

What they witnessed was students – boys and girls, sitting on each other and some hanging out the windows. But to the group, it was a fun event. The NATION team could not believe it, so we counted again. The result was the same the second time around, over 30 passengers.

The operator was not at all worried.

“Yesterday we brought down 47 in one trip and today I was really aiming for 50,” he said.

This article was first published on November 1, 1990.