BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 10

BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS.

HIGH COST CRITICISED.

NO REDUCTION IN PRICES,

SAVING OFFSET BY SIZE

Several protests against the high cost of text books for primary schools were received at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Education Board. Members expressed sympathy with the complaints and it was decided to forward the letters to the Education Department. Tho Auckland Master Printers* Association advised that a published report of a memorandum from the Education Department to the Education Board that "the printing of the books had been carried out at a considerable saving compared with the prices previously charged, owing to the assistance of the association" was misleading. It would appear from the department's statement that the books were now being sold for less than formerly, which was incorrect.

The efforts of the association to reduce tho prices to parents had been nullified by the publishers, who, although forced to reduce the price a page of the books, maintained the previous retail prices by increasing the number of pages in each book, thus depriving parents of any actual monetary relief. The association in reply to a request from tile executive of the Auckland Primary School Committees' Association had guaranteed a saving of at least 25 per cent, to parents if the Government prepared the manuscripts, tfius owning the copyright, and called for public tenders for the printing. The association was prepared to stand by that guarantee. A comparison of prices with overseas productions did not enter into the question at all in the face of the above guarantee. As the department had a competent staff the cost of preparing suitable manuscripts could not possibly bo prohibitive. A copy of a report on the cost of text books adopted by the Committees' Association advocated Government ownership of the copyright; the compilation of the manuscripts by the department and the calling of tenders; a reduction in price of 25 per cent.; and the appointment of a special Parliamentary committee to investigate the matter. The association considered the publishers should supply books at a reduced price for the remaining 18 months of their five years' contract, the usual period for school syllabuses. The Bay of Plenty School Committees' Association forwarded a copy of a letter sent to the department asking that tenders be invited for the supply of all school books and stating that the cost was far too high.

Sir. G. E. Spooncr said the department's statement that the New Zealand books were cheaper than those in Australia was apart from the issue as it was known that the books could be produced more cheaply. He suggested the Minister of Education should be asked to have tho copyright taken over by the Government. The department notified that a new text book for physical education would be announced in this month's issue of tho Education Gazette. A member stated lie had already seen the book and that the price of 7s 6d was too dear.