SCHOOL BOOKS AGAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 306, 20 August 1932, Page 4

SCHOOL BOOKS AGAIN

The statement made yesterday by the Minister of Education (Hon. R. Masters) in regard to the contract for the supply of school text-books, while it clears up some aspects of the matter, still fails to answer pertinenit points which have been raised in criticism. On the face of it, the Minister's claim that the extension of the contract has resulted in an aggregate saving of £40,000 to parents, appears to be a little flambuoyant. This figure is apparently computed on the assumption that if the contract had not been extended, the department would have been forced to undertake the expense of preparing new manuscripts but without further information as to exactly what this would entail, the public is forced to accept this statement at the Minister's valuation. Mr. Masters, quoting from the report of the Auckland Primary Schools' Association, said that the association had estimated the cost of the preparation of new manuscripts "at 5 per eent." Presumably this implied 5 per cent. of | the total outlay but the actual 1 extent oi this total outlay was ! not supplied. Mr. Masters also • summoned to his aid the recomjmendation of the National Ecoj nomy Commission which sugj gested that no change should be | made in the books used by primary schools for the next five years. Opinions of educationall ists differ materially as to the wisdom of this course from anything but an economy point of j view, but as we have previously j pointed out, the function of the ; commission has obviously been economy, with efficieney as a secondary consideration. Two courses appear to have been open to the Minister. The first was to place the contract with the firm at present holding .it, but on more advantageous terms, and the second was to place it elsewhere. Obviously the second alternative has not even been considered, and herein lies one point very much open to criticism. The firm which holds the existing contract has done so for a number of years, and it has found the contract of some benefit. It would appear only reasonable to afford other firms an opportunity of quoting a price, but this opportunity has been withheld. .Admittedly, the fact that the contractors hold the copyright of the books at present in use, would necessitate the compilation of fresh manuscripts, but the Minister has not shown tha,t this could not be carried out at a figure which would still enable the department to make a substantial reduction to parents. The Auckland Primary Schools' Association recommended that the department should hold the copyright of the books, and the preparation of new manuscript copy would give the department the opportunity to obtain this. Not only that, but it would afford an opportunity for making necessary revisions and improving the standard of the oooks along lines which have already been recommended. Mr. Masters states that the present is not an opportune time for undertaking the expense of preparing new manuscripts, but this statement is open to question. The change would give the department the opportunity to secure the copyright, improve the books, and at the same time possibly reduce the cost of their compilation. The main feature open to criticism, however, is the fact that this yaluable contract has apparently been allowed to develop into a virtual monopoly .on the part of one firm which is not only sheltered from competition, but holds the whiphand in the argument by virtue

of the possession of copyright. Mr. Masters aid not answer the contention that a shorter term contract would be a more satisfactory business proposition, nor did he offer any satisfactory explanation as to why the contract was not thrown open to" public tender. In addition, there is the distinct possibility that in accepting a 221 per cent. reduction, the Department has overlooked the trend of prices and that over a five and a-half year period, it may still prove to be on the losing end of the bargain. The contractors apparently intend to pass on a proportion of the reduction to the retailers by redueing the trade discount ten per cent., and the discount to teachers handling the sale of the books from ten per cent. to five per cent. Obviously the publishers are not handling the contract as anything but a business proposition and intend to pass on a considerable propoftion of the reduced returns to the retailers while at the same time reaping the considerable benefit of a long term contract. Despite Mr. Masters' assurance that the matter was^ exhaustively discussed by Cabinet before arriving at a decision, there is no doubt that it has been sprung upon the public in a manner which permitted no consideration or discussion of the issues. However, the contract is made and sealed and for the sake of the parents who pay, it is to be hoped that Mr. Masters' bargain will fulfil his highest ex^ pectations.