FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 July 1926, Page 5

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

COST WOULD BE £BO.OOO.

HOUSE REJECTS PROPOSAL.

LABOUR PARTY’S REQUEST.

(By Telegraph^—(Special to The S-tar.) WELLINGTON, July 30.

Local topics predominated for [two hours after the Education Estimates, totalling £2,975,000, came before the House of Representatives for adoption; to-nighit. Then a national issue cameup by way of relief, Air. AL J. Sav-‘ age (.Auckland West) moving a £lO reduction in the £2090 vote lor school and clasts libraries, as tan indication tou. the Government that it should provide fiee school books, in public schools. The Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) correctly assumed that many members would .sympathise with him if he asked for free books for everyone; but the amendmeiit-tlemand-ed would cost £BO,OOO, and he was ill-i ready hard pressed over education expenditure. He hoped the amendment t would'be defeated.

Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the • Opposition) -declared that, instead of adding to the cost of education by £SO,OOO, it would be just the reverse, - because, under the present system by which parents bought the books, the expenditure was about 10 to 15 per. cent, more than would be the ease' ■' if one purchase-were made. * Air. E. P. Lee (Oamaru) asked why anyone should ask for a reduction, in’, a vote which really ought to be increased. Alt some time or another the Alin-ist-er, said Air.' P. Fraser (Wellington - Central), had advocated free school, books himself, and it was evident- from j the figures quoted that it came with- ' in the sphere of practical polities, r Nearly ©very member had supported the idea- _during last election. Therefore, to prevent Government .support- - ers from breaking their election pledges the Alinister -should adopt the proposal. Air. J. Mason (Napier) said the question was put- to him at every election meeting, but he always regarded free school books as too. Targe a burden, for--the Consolidated Funds. His idea- was that they should be standardised. ‘ ‘Off iciai est imat es have ' a hab it “of;' ' being on the conservative side,” said. Air. W. A. Yeitc-h (Wanganui). Therefore he was encouraged to advise the Minister that, if he decided in favour; of free books, it would turn out much cheaper. 7.\1 “Where there’s- no responsibility .it. is easy to talk,” declared the Hoir. W. Nos worfthy, who pointed to the : wide variety of things for which mem- . bers desired more money. -His view of the amendment was that a £lO reduction would be a clear hint to the Government that it- -should economise. Air. Holland : A democratic Govern-. - ment would -carry out- the will of tlxe people.

•Mr Noswo-rthy: The Government, being democratic, will dq-.wha-t.it' honest-„„ ly ifcliirLk.s it can -afford. A w Mr. Salvage : A word .from, the pe>pole will make the Government do as it-1-ikas. (Laughter.) Air. T. Forsyth (Wellington Bast) opposed free school books on the grounds that they would he- standardised and would lack variety. • He pr-e--' ferred to seen pens, paper and similar - requisites supplied-io scholars. A division was taken in a thin House, it he amendment being defeated by 3(5 votes to 21.