SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20621, 10 August 1932, Page 10

SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS.

SUITABILITY AND COST. AN AUCKLAND INVESTIGATION. (rRESS AB6OCUTXOX nLXSBAX.) AUCKLAND, August 9. Tho suitability and coat of school text Looks arc matters now being investigated by two educational bodies in Auckland, the Primary School Committees' Association and the Headmasters' Association. It is claimed that a reduction in cost additional to the 22$ per cent, decrease announced by the Minister for Education can be effected, and that the suitability of some of the books is open to question. At the last session of Parliament the School Committees' Association was intrumental in presenting a petition urging a reduction in the price of school books and the obtaining by the Education Department 'of the copyright of (he books or otherwise preparing the subject matter. Further signatures to the petition hare been obtained from all parts of New Zealand, and the question will be revived in the coming session.

The association claims that the hooks can be cheapened, that their quality ran be improved, and that further standardisation is possible so that the books may be handed down in the family. It is stated that the present contract for the supply of textbooks does not expire until the end of 1038, hut the association wishes to see the matter thrown open to public tender, fhe Government holding the copyright of the subject matter. .