COMPENSATION FOR AUTHOR

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 8 March 1935, Page 6

COMPENSATION FOR AUTHOR

LOSS ON EDUCATIONAL WORK

COMMITTEE’S REPORT ADOPTED

(By Trilescrapb—Press Association 3 WELLINGTON, March 7. A former Minister of the Crown who wiote a book on citizenship and incurred losses through the attitude of the Department of Education had the matter investigated by the Education Committee. The author was Mb O. W. Russell, now a resident of Eastbourne, and the committee in recommending to the Government foi fa ourable consideration _ his claim for compensation stated it was satisfied that the petitioner wrote the book at the suggestion of Sir James Parr, then Minister of Education, and that although the hook was not approved of as a text book by the Education Department, the committee was of the opinion, having regard to all circumstances, the petitioner should have been paid for his manuscript Mr. H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson) informed the House that the committee was unanimous in its report, which, if carried out by the Government, would do only elementary justice to Mr Russell, a former member of the House. It was stated by Mr W. Nash (Lab., Lower Hutt) that there was no question that the former Minister of Education approved of the book being prepared. It was endorsed on the front page as having been issued with the approval of the Minister of Education. Mr. Russell went to some expense in doing the work, being convinced that the Minister wished it to he written, and it was really a valuable little hook, ’or which the author deserved credit. The committee’s report was adopted.