SCHOOL BOOKS CONTRACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 225, 22 September 1932, Page 5

SCHOOL BOOKS CONTRACT.

COMMITTEES' PROTEST. "AUTOCRATIC ACTION." A remit from the Newton School Committee, protesting against the action of th* Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, in extending the contract for the supply of school text books, and also against Mr. Masters' holding of the portfolio, although not an elected representative, was unanimously supported at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Primary School Committees' Association last evening. Introducing the remit, Mr. C. S.. Morris said that the action qi Mr. Masters wa3 most autocratic, and contrary to the request of the parents. To renew a contract with a private firm without calling for tenders was wrong in principle. "So much opposition has been raised throughout the country that the Government cannot close its ears to it," remarked Mr. F. C. Pace, representing the Te Papapa Committee. "I do not think that in this business Mr.- Masters acted in collaboration with his colleagues. In fact, I expect that some members of the Cabinet were not in favour of it." As a printer, Mr. A. A. Buckley gave it as his opinion that school books could be produced much more cheaply than the contract price. In addition to the remit, a resolution protesting against Cabinet's action in endorsing the renewal of the contract was passed, and it was decided to forward a copy to the Prime Minister. The executive was empowered to send a deputation to Wellington, if necessary, to support the protest.