SCHOOL BOOKS PRICES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 5

SCHOOL BOOKS PRICES

Considered Too High HIGH SCHOOL’S PROTEST ■— i The high price of iext-books in use in secondary schools was brought before the Hutt Valley High School Board of Governors by the principal, Mr. H. P. Kidson, at last night’s board meeting. He was instructed to investigate the matter further and report to the board with a view to getting other boards to co-operate in ■a protest to the Education Deartment. If that brought about no reduction then the advisability of asking the department to import text-books direct would be considered. “I feel that the prices of text-books in use by secondary schools are too high,” said Mr. Kidson. “The Secondary Schools’ Association drew up a report a while ago which shows that a very great profit is being made. Many books are being sold at forty per cent above the English published price, and some above even that.” The chairman (Mr. P. Robertson) : Is there anything in importing our own? “I would rather see the booksellers cut their prices,” said Mr. Kidson. “This year, largely because of the exchanges, the prices have been raised again.” “Could not the various boards get together and tell the booksellers that if they did not bring their prices down it might be advisable for the boards to import the books themselves?” asked Captain 01phert. Mr. J. C. Burns: Has your association ever approached the department in the matter of importing these books? “It has been discussed with the department?” replied Mr. Kidson. “As far as possible the schools run a second-hand department. This affects a big saving.”