SCHOOL TEXT BOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 13

SCHOOL TEXT BOOK

EX-MINISTER'S PETITION

A request for compensation for a book on citizenship is made by the Hon. G. "W. Russell, a former Minister of the Crown, in a petition which was presented to the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon by the Hon. J. A. Hanan. Mr. Russell alleges that the book was written at the request of a former Minister of Education (Sir James Parr), but that it was not adopted by the Education Department, ; with the result that he suffered severe losses.

The petition reads as follows:— 1. That, in the year 1922, the petitioner at the request of the Hon. C. J. Parr, then Minister of Education, wrote and printed (i book intitled "Citizenship" for use in the .public schools of the Dominion.

2. That the book contained sound instruction in civics, economics, and ethics in simple language, and was kept strictly within the secular system maintained in the Dominion.

3 That notwithstanding the fact that the. Minister approved of the book, and authorised its use in all public schools, the Education Department systematically has blocked it, and it is not included in any list of books that may bo used' either by teachers or scholars.

4 That in conseaueneo the petitioner has suffered severe loss of the labour of_ writing (estimated at 100 guineas), printing, an edition for the* Minister's approval (estimated at £25). and royalties for twelve years (estimated at £50 per annum).

5 That the petitioner believes the instruction contained in the book is necessary to the children of the Dominion, and would be of benefit to them in every way.

6. Wherefore the petitioner humbly prays that the Council should take the matter into consideration and make such recommendation as it considers justified.