UNIVERSITY LECTURERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 13

UNIVERSITY LECTURERS.

HIGHER SALARIES WANTED.

WORK OF GREATER IMPORTANCE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

When assistants were first introduced into the v . ersity olleges of New Zealand, their duties were mainly confined to the marking of students' exercises and to assisting the professors in various ways of comparatively minor importance. Gradually their responsibilities have grown, until to-day many perform work of much greater importance, in some cases delivering lectures on those branches of their subject in which they specialise and granting "terms" to students in their classes. Some dissatisfaction with the rate of remuneration awarded them has arisen in consequence, and full time assistants consider their salaries should be increased.

At a meeting of the Victoria College Council, a communication from several full-time assistants pointed out the desirability of their salaries being increased. Professor T. A. Hunter pointed out that the salaries of male full-time assistants was £400, and females £300. The college possessed several assistants who were doing full-time work and took part in the task of delivering lectures. •'lf we do not offer them a career in. the college," he said, "then we will be continually required to fill their places with other men whom we will have to train in order to fit them for their positions." A committer was set up to inquire into the matter, and also into the financial position, with power to act.