THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 8482, 6 April 1891, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.

TO JHE EDITOB. Sik, —I notice that the majority of the education boards in the colony have questioned the right of the Otago Trades and Labor Council to approach the Government on the school book question, and some of them have been very strong in their condemnation of the action of the Otago Trades and Labor Council. In Auckland they say that it is probably the work of two or three individuals, which shows that some members either are very ignorant of the strength of tiie labor organisations or they say what they know to be untrue, For the information of these gentlemen, I may say that the Otago Trades and Labor Council represents at least thirteen unions in a sound and prosperous condition; and 1 think that the last elections showed very plainly that they represent a substantial majority In Dunedin and its suburbs at any rate. And 1 take it that the question of school books affects the working classes more than It affects the members of the various education beards, and it is to be hoped that the ; working men of this colony will remember that in choosing their school committees this month, for this question, like all other

important public questions, must be fought out at the ballot-box,J Ihen there is another point in reference to the letters to the Minister of Education and the Otago Education Board. The members at two meetings where these letters were discussed were very indignant at the presumption of the Trades and Labor Council to charge them with forcing the books of Whitcombe and Tombs into our public schools, when, as a matter of fact, the letter in question did nothing of the kind. It only says the thing was being done, but does not say by whom; but that very strong attempts were made to force these books into some of the schools. For instance, in the Maoandrew road School the parents had to enter a very strong protest; at Mosgiei children were caned for not taking these books, aod by a letter that '• ppeered in the ‘ Globe ’ I saw that children had been turned out of one school for not taking these books ; and at Sawyers Bay they had to hold an indignation meeting on the same sulj L . 1 think these cases ate sufficient proof tn-,. the Otago Trades and Labor Council were perfectly right in their contention. For the information of the public you might publish the two letters enclosed. The one to the Minister of Education will show that this is not the first time the publication of a uniform set of school and text books by the Government has been advocated by the Council.— l am, etc., R. Slater. Dunedin, April 4, February 6. To the Hon. Minister of Education. Sir,—By din o'ion of t,bo Otago Trades and Labor Council 1 have to draw your attention to the Get tha f , against the wishes of a very large majority of parents, attempts arc beieg made to introduce the ‘ S ruthern Cross Headers ’ into our s hnolr. liie.d not tell you thro light in which the working classes look upon the matter. lam al-o instruct.d to ask if you can see your wav to give t fleet to the following resolution, which was passed at a meeting of this Council oa the Pin May, 1890:—“ That in the opinion of this Council there should be a uniformity of t-ohool and test-books in our State schools, and that this would beat be brought about by the Govern ment preparing and publishing the same, the wnola of such preparation and work to be done m the colony.” This resolution was forwarded to your predecessor on the 19ih of May, 1890. Hoping you will see your way to give early attention to these matters—l am, etc., R. iILATfiB, Secretary Trades and Labor Council, February 6, 1891. To the Secretary of the Otago Education • Board. Sir, —I am directed ly tin Trades and Labor Ooaecii to draw your attention to the fact that, against the wishes of a very large majority of parents, in some of our reboots the publications of Messrs IVnitcombs aed Tombs are baiug introduced. At a inerting of the above Council last night the following resolution was carried : “That this Couacd protests against the arbitrary manner In which the use of Whitcombe and Tombs's books ore sought to he enforced on the working classes, whore chhiren attend our public chords.” Hopiog your Baa.d svdl see the wi-don,f ism'-r.g mob orders as will redevethe pa eats of the uecjesuy of withdrawing their children from school—l have, etc , K. Slateh, Secretary Trades and ;r Council.