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COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

DISSATISFACTION WITH j REDUCTIONS. j STATE OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHTS URGED. Claiming that only about half the primary school text-books and none of tho text-books used in the socondary schools -will bo subject to the reduction of 22-} por cent, in price announced recently by the. Minister for Education, delegates to the Canterbury School Committees' Association lost evening expressed strong dissatisfaction with the arrangements made by the Government in response to tho agitation for choapcr text-books. Tho association also decided to ask tho Minister for an immediate announcement as to whether it was intended that on the expiry of the present printing contracts the Department should own tho copyrights of school books and call for tenders for the printing. Mr T. W. West, who addressed the meeting at some length on tho question, said that from the announcement of the Minister it might be expected that the, public would reap a substantial benefit from the arrangements made by tho Department. Ho had clear evidence, howover, that the whole question of the school books had been settled by the Department without any provision for the improvements that had boon sug- ' gested by educational bodies throughout j the country. Tho reduction of 22$ per cent, would not include all the textbooks used in the primary schools. The Minister mentioned that tho "Beacon" Berics, Avhich was printed in England, would not be subject to tho reduction, but the speaker was in a position to know that other New Zealand-printed ! books, including tho "Live Eeader" series, would bo in a similar position, and twice as many of the latter books were sold as compared with the series mentioned by the Minister. Profits of Publishers. A total of 27 books would be subject to the reduction, but there were altogether 22 other widely-used books that would not bo reduced in price, as well as a half a dozen other less important toxt-books. The suburban shopkeepers who held stocks of toxt-books would not receive a reduction of 22J per cent., which would mean that people would bo forced to purchase from the publishers. In the past the publishers had allowed suburban shopkeepers a reduction of 25 per cent, on text-books, so that with all the buying concentrated in tho publishing firm tho latter -would be actually better off than before to the extent of 2$ per cent. Mr West said that lie had made very careful enquiry into the position, and could assure his hearers that his statements were correct. He said that tho "Live Header" series which was used extensively could be' produced at 50 por cent, "less than the cost to users. At least 25 per cent, could be deducted from the cost and still allow the publishing firm a more than adequato profit. There were printers in Christchurch -who would be prepared to publish these book? at half the old price, and still make a "rattling good profit." "Until tho Government holds the copyrights and calls for open tenders for printing we will be fleeced," declared Mr West. He was afraid that the old system of the publishers holding the copyrights was going to continue. Edu-, cational bodies in Auckland and Wellington had expressed dissatisfaction, and he thought it was tho duty of tho School Committees' Association to register its disapproval also. He instanced the case of the School Journal as an example of the saving to be effected by public tendering for the printing of text-books. The Government had admitted that it had saved thousands of pounds by this step. On the motion of Mr West the following motion was carried: "The Canterbury School Committees' Association notes with approval that arrangements have been made fpr an immediate reduction of 22} per cent, in the present retail price of certain school books. While this is satisfactory as far as it goes, the range of books included is only a proportion of 27 out of the 55 books published in New Zealand used in the primary schools, and does not include any secondary school books. This association calls for the Minister to make an immeditae announcement as to whether it is his intention that on tho expiry of the present contracts the Department shall own tbn copyrights of the school books and call for tenders for the printing."

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19320811.2.14

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 4

Word Count
717

COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS. Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 4

COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS. Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 11 August 1932, Page 4