SCHOOL QUESTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1932, Page 5

SCHOOL QUESTIONS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

iCHOOL AGE AND TEXT BOOKS,

(Per Press Association — • Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. The National Conference of School Committees’ Associations to-day appointed the following speakers for a deputation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of: Education Messrs W. H. Steele (Southland), Robert C. S. Morris (Auckland), N. A. Ingram (Wellington), and A. J. Phillips (Manawatu). . The principal subjects will be a protest against the renewal of the contract for school text books j a -protest against the exclusion of the five-year-old children from the primary schools, the matter of capitation grants,- and the ban on prize-giving at euchre parties,

MINISTER GIVES HIS REPLY.

TEXT BOOKS CONTRACT

WELLINGTON, November 16,

Replying to a deputation on the subject of school text books, Hon. (R. Masters said that master printers estimated the cost of books to equip each child in standard classes at £55,443 and that purchases for successive years would be 75 per cent of that total. After allowing for 33 1-3 per cent, reduction which it was dlaimed could have been obtained, this showed a net expenditure of £161,705 over 5 years, and gave a net saving of £46,200. As opposed to this the Minister’s arrangement showed an expenditure of £161,125 on the basis of assumed figures of the Printers’ Association, and this less 224 per cent gave a net saving of £46,780 or an advantage of £SBO over five years., On the basis of ascertained expenditure on the part of parents for new books for standard classes and allowing for 224 per cent on new purchases, the actual amount saved to parents under the printers’ scheme would he £21,389, as against £39,387 under the Minister’s arrangement. . Not only was there a substantial saving made, but the necessity for a capital expenditure of approximately £20,000 was obviated, and the Government were not put. to any expense on the preparation of manuscripts estimated to cost at least £3,500.