FREE SCHOOL BOOKS. REPLY TO CRITICS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 138, 10 December 1908, Page 7

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS. REPLY TO CRITICS.

j STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, made a statement to a Post representative to-day concerning the series of resolutions passed by the Christchurch and other Education Boards on the question of free school books and the alleged inadequacy of the grant promised by the department for this purpose. "It is quite clear," said Mr. Fowlds, "from the attitude taken up by some boards, that they are antagonistic to the idea of supplying school books free to children at all. An estimate was made of the amount required for the purpose of free school books, and n.n amount was appropriated. It was made up after very careful enquiry as to the books used in the primary classes and standards 1 and 2, and these books had been ascertained by officers of the Education Department. The position taken up by some members of the board, that the money apportioned would be better spent in such requisites as drawing books and writing blocks, is perfactly absurd, considering that the policy was adopted with the view of avoiding hardships to those parents who transferred from one school district to another, and might in coiiEequence bo involved in the cost of a complete set of new books. Drawing books or writing blocks are the same in every school district." The Minister did not think there is anything in the contention of the Christchurch Board that there is a grave danger to the health of children in a system which requires the books to be the common property of school children. He pointed out that they mix together under piesent circumstances, and different pupils are frequently handling the same article. It would be as logical to say there was a grave danger in allowing boys to handle the same cricket balls or bat. If any one wants to be especially careful, there is nothing to prevent pupils using their own hooks ot taking such other stops as, in the opinion of the parents, might be required to secure the ideal aimed at. "I think," Mr. Fowlds concluded, "that when the position is explained, the boards wil' see tha reasonableness of the amoiuit apportioned by the Government. If the boards can show that the- books in use cost a larger sum than the capitation provided, further consideration will be given to the whole question. Up to the present no such evidence has been supplied to me or io the department." I ' -

The Commissioner of Crown Lands announces in our advertising columns that Mrs. Kelly, of Petonc, has been appointed caretakor of the workers' dwellings in the llcretaunga Settlement, and will show intending applicants over any of tho dwellings. Tho London Times has opened a shop on Lambton-quay for the exhibition of the Historians' History of the World during tho last fortnight of the sale._ The idea of having tho volumes on view in somo central placo was suggested by a prominent Wellington purchaser, who expressed his opinion that every one ought to be given the chance of seeing the book before the closing day. The address is 310, Lambton-quay, in tho Commercial Hotel Building, next door to Messrs Whitcombe and Tomb*.