FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1920, Page 4

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

PRESENT BURDEN ON PARENTS. TARANAKI BOARD SUPPORTS FREE BOOKS. Members of the Taranaki Education Board are unanimously in favor of free school books being supplied to parents, recognising the heavy burden that is placed on parents owing to the high cost of school books. The matter was introduced at yesterday's meeting by a letter from the Southland Board asking stjnport to the following resolution: "ThatTTn view of the drastic re-model-ling oj the education system by the Minister of Education, it is the opinion of this Board that it is desirable that the Department should provide free school books for the scholars, or if that is impracticable, the Department take immediate steps to supply the necessary books through education boards at a minimum of cost to parents, and that the various boards in the Dominion be asked to endorse this proposal and communicate same to the Minister." Mr. H. Trimble moved that the Board support the Southland Board's resolii: lion requesting the Department to arrange for the supply of free books, and that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Minister oi Education. Speaking to the motion, Mr. Trimble stated that he did not support the latter part of the .Southland Board's res»lution. lie had always advocated the supply of books free, and he believed that this would have been in vogue now if it had not been for the opposition of school teachers and the inspectors at the time the matter was proposed by the Department some years ago. The chairman (Mr. P. J. White) said that he agreed theoretically with tho principle. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., in seconding, said that they boasted of their free system of education, but as far as the parents of large families were concerned education was far from free. The books could be purchased by the Education Department much cheaper than they could be purchased individually by parents. The charges for books were becoming heavy on parents, in view of the fact that 'not only were prices going up, but continual calls were being made on parents for exercise boks, notebooks, etc. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., in supporting the resolution, said that when the deputation waited on the Minister he, raised the question that the cost to the Department would be £24,000 per [ annum. Other members supported the resolution, which was carried.