A CHALLENGE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1932, Page 2

A CHALLENGE

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

CRITICISED

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH, August 11

Ik challeinge to the Minister of Education '(tue iion. <R, blasters) to deny that, only half of, the school books published in New Zealand were to be subject to the recently-announced reduction In price of 2k£ pdr cent., was made .by Mr T. W. West, at ,th© meeting of -the Canterbury School Commit* 'teea' AMQc'iation ‘fast evening, Mr West said that the reduction applied to about twenty-seven books. There were twenty-two other important books, he said, which were not subject to the reductioh and six other less-important books.

“I am not making this statement without knowing avhat I am talking about,” said Mr West. ‘‘We asked that the copyright of school books should be held by the Education Department and that it should call tenders for printing them.” He had b«en assured by the Master Printers’ Guild that one book which at present was sold at 6d could he produced and sold for 50 per cent, less and that another book now being sold at 2s could be /retailed at Is 4d.

The Minister, said Mr West, led them ■to believe that a 22} per cent, reduction- was (something wonderful. “Until the Government holds the copyright and calls for tenders for the printing,” said Mr West, “we will have to pay.” He moved: “That the Canterbury School Committees’ Association notes with approval that arrangements have been made for an immediate reduction of 22} per cent, in the present retail prices of certain school books. While this is satisfactory so far as it goes the range of books included is only twentyseven out of a total of fifty-five published in 'New Zealand, and does not include any secondary school books. This association calls upon the Minister to make an immediate announcement as to whether it is T intention that on the expiry of the present contracts the Department shall own the copyrights of the school books and call for tenders for the printing.” The motion was seconded by Mr J. G. ,Brown, who congratulated Mr West on -bringing up the question. jMr C. S. Thompson contended that it would not be detrimental to parents if the -present set'of books was entirely scrapped and replaced by new books sold at lower prices. The motion was carried unanimously.