COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1922, Page 8

COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS

INVESTIGATION URGED.

The following motion, carried at the last meeting of the Thorndon branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, was placed before th» Wellington College Board of Governor*, to-day :— • .

"The members of the Thorndon branch of the A.S.B.S. wish to emphasise the fact that the cost of school books and school requisites constitute a drain so severe on the resources of working people that drastic and urgent reform, is imperative. Members of the Railway Service, who are sometimes transferred from place to place at fairly frequent intervals are more especially severely taxed, and, in view of the intention of the Government to reduce wages, we contend ihat there is a crying need for investigation into the present system of supplying school books and school requisites. We '.feel bound to insist that in ■ this regard New Zealand is sadly lagging behind, and would point out that in many countries school books and school requisites are supplied free of cost from kindergarten to university. The position that working people are now faced with is that they are unable to continue the ■ education of their children, and as an educated democracy is universally ■ recognised as an essential for the well-being of present-day civilisation, such a state of things should not be tolerated for one single moment. We have no hesitation in asserting that for years past, and more especially since the outbreak of war, profiteering in the commodities mentioned has been barefacedly carried on. We wish to refer particularly to the exorbitant cost ol secondary school books, and in this connection assert .without fear of contradiction that the question has assumed the dimensions of a positive scandal. In Wellington at present there is practically a monopoly in the supply of school books, and no section of the community should be placed ab the mercy, of a private monopoly. We strongly urge the immediate necessity for a,searching inquiry into the whole position, and confidently look to you for help in the circircumstances, so direful and so reprehensively immoral from a social point of view."

•On the motion of the chairman (Mr. W. F. Ward), it was decided that the headmaster and headmistress be request-, ed to report on the price and cost of school boolcs and requisites^ and whether any scheme could be devised by which the board : could undertake the supply of bboks at less cost. ,

Mr. R. Darroch : "The society should be informed that if the Government is prepared to supply books free of cost we have no objection." The matter was an important one, and if unanimity of opinion could be obtained amongst the different boards, and so have universal books, a wonderful saving could be effected.