FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 6 July 1921, Page 4

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS

BOOKSELLERS ALARMED

(B_ TELEQftAPH —PttKSS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 5. Proposals for free supply of school', books for children attending public? schools has caused some alarm to booksellers in the city. A deputation waited, on the Central; - Chamber of Commerce to-day and. sought to enlist its-sympathy and cooperation to resist the proposal. It, was pointed-out that a large propor--tion of the profits of the sales of small booksellers were made from the sale of" school books, and State control of thesesupplies would cripple many retailers... If nationalisr^ion was to be applied, why not to school boots? The deputation denied that large profits were - made. The expenses of such a Statedepartment would fall on the shoulders-, of the ratepayers, -and another point .- stressed was that the public revenuewould lose the amount obtained by the taxation of booksellers' profits. The Chamber promised to consider— the matter.