MINISTER OF EDUCATION REPLIES TO CRITICISM

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 23, 19 August 1932, Page 3

MINISTER OF EDUCATION REPLIES TO CRITICISM

EXTENSION OF CONTRACT FOR SUPPLY OF SCHOOL BOOKS SAVING OF £40,000 TO PARENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WELLINGTON, Thursday. PARENTS of primary school children throughout New Z«ilahd will save about £40,000 as a result of the Government's action in extending for four years the contract with publishers for the supply of school books, according to a statement made to-day by the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters). The Minister replied to a criticism of the decision to extend the contract and he pointed out the advantage of having secured an immediate reduction of 22£ per cent, in the retail price of books, obtained in return for the extension.

"It would appear," said the Minister, "that tlitis protest/ !h:p been made without, a thorough knowledge of the true position. It will interest the public to knew that the National Expenditure Commission made a full inquiry ami dealt with this question in its final report, and, following upon a recommendation in its interim report that there he no alteration in primary school books for the next live years, has now recommended an extension of the present arrange, inent, provided the publishers reduce the retail prices of the books immediately. "Shortly after my appointment as Minister of Education I made exhaustive inquiries regarding this question and recently entered negotiations with the publishers, with the result that, as has been announced, an immediate reduction of 221 per cent, on the present retail prices of fbooks 'has been secured in return for an extension of the contract. This reduction mear|s a saving of approximaely £7BOO in one year's purchases. "An alternative to this was the preparation of manuscripts at eonsid. erably heavy cost and the calling of tenders for an entirely fresh set ot books. While it is conceded that if times were normal it would be desirable to hold the copyright, of the books, the Government felt the time was inopportune to compel the par. ents of every child to purchase new books.

books is not being interfered with. "At. the end of hist year a special committee of the Auckland Primary Schools' Association brought down a report upon this question," Mr. Mas. ters said, "and it was urged that the Government should own the manuscripts and thus effect a reduction oi. 25 per cent, in the present prices of the books. It was suggested also that the time had come when tha present publishers should be asked to supply books during the balance of their contract at reduced cost to parents who, it was said, were feeling the burden of the expenses to which they were put. The special committee made mention of the fact that 5 per cent, could be provided for the ccct of manuscripts.

"Seeing the Government has brought about an immediate reduction of 221 per cent, in the retail prices of books without incurring a heavy outlay in the preparation of manu. scripts and without forcing parents to nicura expenditure amounting in the aggregate to about £40,000," Mr. Mas. ters said, "it is difficult to underehand a criticism, which has been made. It has been said the action taken was altogether too precipitate and quite uncalled for and that the interests of parents have been sacrificed. To each of these charges I say unhesitatingly that all my efforts have been in the direction of helping the parents of the Dominion during a very trying period. The decision of the Government was reached only after most careful consideration of the whole position, and with all due respect to those who have offered any criticism I make bold to say now that the arrangement js one that will be welcomed by the great majority of parents, particularly in view of the difficult times through which we are passing."

"It has to be remembered that the immediate reduction in retail prices is made available to the public foi the remaining period of the original contract, and this, taken in conjunction with what would have amounted to a compulsory purchase of new books, will mean a saving to parents throughout the Dominion, of approximately £40,000. A point worthy of mention is that the quality of the