TO-DAY'S SITTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 130, 3 June 1901, Page 3

TO-DAY'S SITTING.

The Commission resinned to-day, all the members but Mr Smith being pre« sent. Mr W. 11. C. Walker, representing- the first assistant masters, was the first witness called. He said that by the Auckland scale first assistants in schools of from 600 to 700 received £190, between 500 and 600 £175, between '.400 a:?d 500 £150, between 300 and 400 £140, and between 200 and 300 £.120. By this scale first assistants were receiving- salaries 10 to 20 per cent, lower than those in the South. To make their salaries eke out teachers were often obliged to coach after hours, which had a detrimental effect on. school work, • He pointed out that in.' some cases the first assistant had ta hold the same certificate as the head teacher. Assistant masters often held their positions as a means of getting, well known, so that they might obtain head masterships in town.

By Mr McKenzie: He did not wish' (o see assistant teachers who were getting the highest salaries reduced, but would prefer to sec the scale approximating the highest scale.

By Mr Davidson: He thought a sola teacher could manage a school up to 40 children.

By Mr Stewart: Assistants were nos satisfied here, feeling that there was no stability in their' salaries. He had been engaged in his present position; at £200, but his salary had been reduced to £190. All assistants would much prefer to have a colonial scale. If a .fair average rate of pay were fixed by the Commission, Auckland assistants would be prepared to accept it. Lady, teachers were most emphatic in theifi advocacy of a colonial scale.

By Mr Oilfedder: He did not thin^ Auckland schools were over-staffed. He thought that town teachers wers pa.id on a low scale in Auckland, ovH ing to the number of country schools* By Mr Hill: He thought that lady, teachers could manage country, schools up to 30, and men perhaps up. to 45. Htithought that if possible teachers should be trained before doing practical work. He thought £240 to £250 a fair s-alary for firat assist* ■ants.

By Mr Weston: He had little confidence in the Education Boards. He' advocated a colonial scale of staffing" because he thought a colonial scale of promotion would be v natural coro]-* lary. He did not think that lady teachers were better adapted for teaching small schools than men. He thought £80 a year should be a minimum sal* ary.and that teachers receiving this should have schools of 15 or 16 pupils. Pupil teacher teaching should be kept' in narrow limits.

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