SCHOOL BOOKS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 305, 19 August 1932, Page 5

SCHOOL BOOKS

(Press. Assn.-

MINISTER REPLIES NEW CONTRACT MEANS A SAVING OF £40,000 TO PARENTS : ^ CRITIGISM UNJUSTIFIED

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Wellington, Thursday. The parents of the Dominion are bein,g saved £40,000 through the Government's decision to extend the pnesent contract for the supply of primary school books for four years, according to a statement made by the Minister of Education (Hon. R. Masters) to-day in reply to recent criticism of this action. "It would appear," said the Minister, "that this protest has been made without thorough knowledge of the true position. It will intsrest the public to know that the National Expenditure Commission made full enquiry and dealt with this question in its final report. The following recommendation was included in its interim report: That there he no alteration in primary school books for the next five years. "The Commission has now recommended the extension of the present arrangement provided the publishers reduce the retail prices of the books immadiately. Shortly after my ap-

pointment as Minister of Education, I made exhaustive enquiries regarding this question, and recently entered into negotiations with the publishers, with the result that, as has been announced, an immediate reduction of 22| j>er cent. on the present retail prices of the books has been s'ecured, in return for an extension of the contract. Extent of Savings This reduction means a saving of approximately £7500 in one year's purchases. Alternative to this, was the preparation of manuscripts at a heavy cost and the calling of tenders for an entirely fresh set of books, and whilst it is conceded that if times wera normal it would be desirable to hold the copyright of the books, the Government felt that the time was inopportune to compel the parents of every child in our schools to purchase new books. It has to be remembered that an immediate reduction in retail prices is made available to the public for the remaining period of the original contract, and this, taken in conjunction with what would have amounted to a compulsory purchase of new books, will mean a saving to parents throughout the Dominion of approximately £40,000. Quality Unehanged A point worthy of mention is that the quality of the books is not being interfered with. At the end of last year, a special committee of the Auckland Primary Schools' Assoeiation brought down a report upon this question when it was urged that the Government should own the manuscripts and thus effect a reduction of 25 per cent in the present prices of the books. It was suggested also that the time had come when the present publishers should be asked to supply books during the balance of their contract at a reduced cost to the parents who, it was said, were feeling the hurden of the expense to which they were put. The special committee made mention of tha fact that 5 per cent. could be provided for the cost of the manuscripts.

Criticism Unjustified "In view of the fact that the Government has brought about an immediate reduction of 22£ per cent. in the retail prices of the books without incurring a heavy outlay in preparation of manuscripts and without forcing parents to incur expenditure amounting in the aggregate to some £40,000, it is difficult to understand the criticism which has been made. It has been said that the action taken was altogether too precipitate and quite uncalled for, and that the interests of parents have been saerificed. To each of these charges I say unhesitatingly that. all my efforts have been in the direction of belping parents of the Dominion during a very trying period. "The decision of the Government was reached only after most careful consideration of the whole position, and with all due respeet to those who have offere'd any criticism, I make hold to say that the new arrangement is one that will be weleomed by the great majority of parents, particularly in view of the difficult times through which we are passing."