PRICE OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 9

PRICE OF SCHOOL BOOKS.

REDUCTION SECURED BY MINISTER. LONDON, July 14. The Hon. R. Masters (Minister for Education) has completed a new contract with the London publishers ©f the Beacon Reader school-books, effecting a reduction of an average of 30 per cent, in the present retail prices, and protecting the sellers' reasonable profit. One of the conditions is that books one to four are to be printed v in New Zealand, while' five and six will be partially printed there for the present, with a view to their complete production in future. No alteration is to take place m th« size, quality, or binding of the books.

The Beacon readers for the supply o* which the Hon. R. Masters, Minister for Education, has just completed a new contract with the London publishers, are used by the infant classes 'E the primary schools. They are among the more expensive books, the Price ranging from Is upwards, and for that reason several of the primary schools in Christchurch do not Jise them, preferring the New Zealand publications, many of which were . reduced in price last August. •«* the past the readers have been printed and published in England. _£ast August the Minister announced •w the contract for the supply of SfiQol books by New Zealand pubiners, which was due to expire at w»e end of this year, had been reJewed for a further four years, and had granted a 221 oer f*nt reduction in retail prices, although it was stated in the controwhich followed the Minister's ■MMwncement that actually only 22 fiW of the 35 books printed and pubS**d In New Zealand would be so Wduced in price. ■ .. making that announcement, the jwnister made it clear that the reduction would not apply to the Beacon , **aders, since their copyright was j *wned in England, and the books gnetnselves were printed and puo- . lushed there. ' # :'~ — ■»-