WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SCHOOL BOOKS CONIBACT.

PLAIN SPEECH

(Special Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, November 17

The Hon. Hebert Masters is but the tlnra memoer of the Legislative Council who has held the portfolio of Education s.iict) tue parage of ti.e <JOII- - Act in 1852 which gave New Zealand representative institutions. It is true that Sir Charles Eowen sat in Hie Legislative Council from December 16, 18',-i, to December 20, 1874, but it was not until-his resignation on the latter " date a‘nd Ids election to the House of Representatives as member

for K'aiapoi on January 25, 18i5, that lie took charge of tiie portfolio Mr Masters now holds. The other members of the Legislative Council who have held the portfolio of Education are the Hon. William Cambell Walker ?.:>d Sir Francis Bell. Mr Walker, after representing Ashburton in the House for two Parliaments, from 1884, to 1890 moved on to the Legislative Council in. 1.892 and subsequently servtu as Minister of Education from 1896 to 1903, while Sir Francis Bell held the portfolio for six months after the dissolution of tho National Government in 1919. ' . '

THE STURDY BROOM. Mr Masters cannot be likened to any one of liis predecessors in possession of the porciolio of- Education. Addressing a deputation from the School Committees’ Association that waited upon him yesterday with a request chat a contract that had been made for the supply of school hooks should bo reviewed no called a spade a spade with charateristie candour. He claimed that business like arrangement had been made. There had been a saving f,o the people and the Government, and the extension of the contract had brought to the people the fulfilment of a long standing request. The* Government could have refused to do anything, but he had realised that educational expenditure would have to come down and that what he would have to do would be unpopular. He could understand the feeling of the teachers, school onimittees and others, on accent of the economies made, but he could not help feeling that the criticism of the school emmittees had been engineered by the master printers who had exploited the position to the fullest possible extent. BY AND BY. The Minister went on to say that a new contract would involve heavy capital expenditure by parents, and in view of the prevailing conditions he did'not feel justified in recommending Cabinet to force this upon the people at a time when they could ill afford the expenditure. The alternative was to negotiate for the extension of the existing contract on the best possible terms, and an excellent contract had been made from the parents’ viewpoint. This certainly appears to he o verv reasonable concession. Whether or not the outside producers sire nerturb. cd by the arrangements to be seen, but m any case Mr iu.usct* s may bo congratulated upon having brought about .an adjustment which will materially lessen the burden of the parents and at the same time ensure the children having books .and material quite as satisfactory as those they have had at their disposal in the past. Maybe the Minister of Education might have served the country dven better in the other branch of the Legislature; but his opporunity. willcome and he still has comparative youth on his side.