WAGES OF SCHOOL CARETAKERS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 8

WAGES OF SCHOOL CARETAKERS

* INFORMATION TO BE SENT TO MINISTER

Information about the wages and conditions of work of caretakers in the main schools in Christchurch is being obtaihed by the Christchurch Caretakers’ Union in collaboration with the Canterbury School Committees’ Association, with a view to bringing about a marked improvement both in pay and hours of work. The information is being collected at the suggestion of the Minister for Education (the Hon. P, Fraser) and will be sent to him as soon as possible.

This was indicated yesterday by the secretary of the union (Mr W. H. Mathison), who said he had discussed with the Minister the conditions of work of caretakers in schools. The Minister had agreed that some improvement was most desirable, and had suggested that as a first step definite information should be obtained about wages and hours of work in particular. All the information had been gathered, said Mr Mathison, and he was now trying to arrange a conference with the School Committees’ Association, which was also obtaining details. After that conference the information would be sent to the Minister. Mr Mathison said the details he had obtained showed that in a school of 660 pupils the caretaker and his wife received £166 a year for their services, and had to find their own accommodation. They worked on an average about 58 hours a week. Another caretaker received £9O per annum, with a free house and firing He worked about 60 hours a week.