School Textbooks

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7008, 18 November 1932, Page 11

School Textbooks

MB MASTERS REPLIES TO A DEPUTATION. ADVANTAGES CLAIMED EOB THE • MINISTER’S ARRANGEMENT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Replying to-day to a deputation on the subject of school text books, the Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, said that the master printers estimated the cost of books to equip each child in the standard classes at £55,443 and that the purchases for successive years would be 75 per cent, of that total, after allowing for the 33 1-3 per cent, reduction which, it had been claimed, could have been obtained, .liis showed a net expenditure of £161,Vos"'ovcr five years, and gave a nett saving of £46,200. As opposed to this, 'he Minister’s arrangement showed an expenditure of £161,125 on the basis of the assumed figures of the Master Printers’ Association, and this, less 22-J per cent., gave a nett saving of '46,780 ; or an advantage or' £SBO over ive years. On the basis of the ascertained expenditure On the part of the

parents for new books for the standard classes, and allowing for 22J per cent, new purchases, the actual amount saved to parents under the printers’ scheme would be £21,389, as against £39,387 under the Minister’s arrangement. Not only was this a substantial saving made, but the necessity for capital expenditure of approximately £20,000 was obviated and the Government was not put to any expense in the preparation of manuscripts estimated to cost at least £3500.