FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1926, Page 2

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

COST WOULD BE £BO,OOO. WELLINGTON, July 30. Local topics predominated for two hours after the Education Estimates, totalling £2,975,000 came before the House of Representatives for adoption to-night. Then a national issue came up hy way of relief, Mr Savage moving a £lO reduction in the £2OOO vote for school and class libraries as ail indication to the Government that it should provide free school hooks in public schools. The Minister of Education correctly assumed that many members would sympathise with him if he asked for free hooks for everyone, hut what the amendment demanded would cost £BO,000 and lie was already hard pressed over education expenditure. He hoped the amendment would he defeated. Mf H. E. Holland declared that, instead of adding to the cost of education hy £BO,OOO it would he just the reverse, because under the present system. by which parents bought the hooks, the expenditure was about 10 to 15 per cent, more than would he the case if one purchase was made. Mr E. P. Lee asked why anyone should ask for a reduction in a vote which really ought to ho increased. At some time or another the Minister, said Mr P. Fraser, had advocated free school books himself, and it was evdent from the figure quoted that it came within the sphere of practical polities. Nearly every member had supported the idea during last election, therefore to prevent Government supporters from breaking election pledges the Minister should adopt the proposal. Air Mason (Napier) said the question was put to him at every election meeting, hut he always regarded free schoolbooks as to large a burden for the Consolidated Fund. His idea was that they should he standardised. “Official estimates have a habit of being on the conservative side,” said Mr Veitch, therefore he encouragingly advised the Minister that if he decided in favour of free hooks it would turn out much cheaper. “Where, there is no responsibility it is easy to talk,}’ declared the Hon W. Nosworthy, who pointed to the wide variety of things for which members desired more money. His view of the amendment was that a £lO reduction

would be a clear hint to the Government that -it should economise. Mr Holland (leader of the Opposition) : A democratic Government would carry out the will of the people. Air Nosworthy: The Government, being democratic, will do what it honesty thinks it can afford. Air Savage: A word from the people will make the Government do as it likes. - (Laughter.) Air Forsyth (Wellington East) opposed free school hooks on the ground that they would be standardised, and 1 would lack variety. He preferred to t see pens, paper and similar requisites supplied to scholars. f A division was taken in a thin I House the amendment being defeated by 36 votes to 21. A