RELIEF PROPOSALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 8

RELIEF PROPOSALS.

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

SUGGESTIONS TO MINISTER.

RESTRICTION OF ENTRIES.

A suggestion that the surplus of teachers could be absorbed if the size of classes were reduced, was made when a meeting of unemployed teachers was held on Saturday. The meeting, which was convened by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, discussed ways and means of relieving the unemployment situation among ex-students of the training colleges. The president of the institute, Mr. A. B. Fordyce, invited the younger teachers to express their opinions. After long discussion the following resolutions, which are to be forwarded to the Minister of Education (Hon. H. Atmore), were carried:—

(1) That, owing to the present abnormal unemployment of young teachers in times of financial stringency, the New Zealand Educational Institute be urged to support the younger teachers in preference to married women teachers who aro not dependent on their salaries for a living.

(2) That the institute should consider tho position of the unemployed teachers and use its influence in finding suitable remedial measures to ensure a chance of a permanent position for every satisfactory probationary assistant, at the conclusion of his course of training, (3) That tho Department of Education, in view of the unemployment among teachers and in the interest of the children, he urged to rescind without delay the recent restrictions regarding relieving teachers.

(4) That the number of entrants' to the teaching profession next year be curtailed by 50 per cent.

(5) That the meeting recommends, in view of the urgency for relief among unemployed women in the Dominion, that the Unemployment Act be amended to include the registration of all women as contributors and beneficiaries under the scheme. It was stated that, as the unemployment levies by men amounted to about £1,000,000. a similar amount could be raised by the registration, of women iu the same way, •'

(6) That an appeal be made to teachers eligible to retire on superannuation and to married women teachers who intend to leave the profession to consider the question of immediate retirement.

LOOKING FOR OTHER WORK !

SUGGESTION BY CHAIRMAN.

"Fully qualified teachers of both sexes are now haunting shops and offices in the city seeking employment for which their own special courses of study over several years give them no suitable qualifications." A statement made by an Auckland teacher to this effect was referred to the chairman of the Auckland Education Board (Mr. A. Burns), together with a- suggestion that teachers had been advised to seek other avenues of work.

Mr. Burns said he was not aware that arir teacher had been told to seek employment in shops and offices, but the statement did not appear to tally with facts, seeing that shops and offices were curtailing their staffs. There was nothing, however, to prevent teachers ffho were not in permanent positions from seeking other employment until won; was found for them by the Department. Discussing the suggestion made by In™ at the last, meeting' of the board, that some provision should be made fo f teachers under the Unemployment Act, Mr, Burns said he had in mind the p os ' sibility of portion of the relief K r being diverted to assist in the employment of some of the young teachers out of employment. The Department *"»' not giving extra assistants in cafe? where there were large classes of upwards of sixty owing to financial strut' geney. Should some of the Unemployment Board's funds be made availatye for teachers, however, it was possiW e that extra assistants could be provided.