THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1912. FREE SCHOOL-BOOKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 30 November 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1912. FREE SCHOOL-BOOKS.

Acting upon the recommendation of the Government, the Wellington Education Board has decided to withdraw the concession of free school-books that has been extended during the last year or two. This decision will bo received with mingled feelings of surprise and resentment by a largo section of the community. The Education Board is, of course, not to blame in the matter. It has been evident for some time that Parliament has not viewed the provision of free school-books with anything like favour. This, was probably due to the fact that Education Boards and school teachers did not regard tho innovation with satisfaction. The Government, glad to effect economies at a time of financial stringency, has been too willing to take -advantage of tho lack of appreciation on the part of Education Boards, and has notified its I intention of withdrawing tho concession. For ourselves, we are convinced that tho Government is pumiing a course that will prejudice it in the eyes of masses of the people. For years it has been argued that tho system of "free and compulsory education" was a misnomer. The cost of books and stationery to the man with a family has been very considerable. Indeed, with the cost of living so high, tho tax was becoming almost unbearable. The Hon George Fowlds, when he .was Minister of Education, resolved that something should bo done to remove the reproach upon the system and to relieve the burden of the poorer people. With this object in view, lie decided that free reading books be provided for tho lower standards in tho schools. Subsequently the concession was extended to the higher standards, and the hopo was entertained that the time would come Tflieit the whole of the school requisites, including stationery, vould be praricFgd" f r e#. But «%*:& do vr« find?

lii-stead of making the system 01 education froo in fuel as well a« in name-, the present Government Is withdrawing the concession already made, and is thus throwing upon heads of families a very considerable financial responsibility. We aro constantly led to deplore the decline- in the birthrate, and we hear politicians declaring that what i.s wanted is mn-'ti population. But when we have a Government that squeezes parents through tho Customs, bleeds them unmercifully for school requisites, and makes no serious attempt to solve the economic problem, our faith in' tho Parliamentary institution is rudely shaken. What is tho use of our providing secondary schools, if their doors are to be closed against tho children of the poor? Are we going to reservo tho professions and tho higher paid occupations to tho families of the rich? If wo arc } it is as well that we should be,honest and say so. A lot of fustian has been spoken of late about tho privileges extended the children of tho poor to graduate from the State school to the University. Row many parents after they have done their duty by the State and reared a- family, can afford to buy books, stationery and other requisites during tho compulsory period of the school age, and tliien allow their off-spring to continue their studies at the District' High Schools? They are few indeed. And since the Government has decided upon its policy of retrenchment, they will be fewer still. We cannot help thinking that the withdrawal of the free school-book concession, small though it may be, is a retrograde step, and one that will 'bring"severe, and not unmerited condemnation upon tho heads of the Government,