RETIREMENT OF TEACHER

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23712, 10 August 1942, Page 6

RETIREMENT OF TEACHER

—♦ — MINISTER TO BE ASKED FOR EXPLANATION The Education Department’s refusal of the services, for the duration of the war, of a teacher retired on super-! annuation, was the subject of a long discussion at the Christchurch Tech- 1 nical’College Board’s meeting on Fri-: day. Mr T. B. Bowring, after 34 years’ service for the board, resigned three ] months ago after consulting with his board and the Superannuation Board, the advice being that he would thus receive his full superannuation grading and could be re-employed by the Technical College Board for the duration of the war at a reduced salary. It was explained by the chairman (Mr T. W. West) that Mr Bowring had been willing to continue teaching during the war as his contribution to the war effort, even though he had passed the retiring age. He resigned on the board’s advice, Mr West said, so that his maximum superannuation would be ensured for his declining years. The intention of the board had been that he should be retired for one day and should then be taken on the teaching staff again. Mr Bowring had been in complete agreement with the board. But the Education Department had refused the reappointment and Mr Bowring’s position had beenj advertised. “I think an injustice has been done,” said Mr J. E. Jones. “In the first place we have let Mr Bowring down and in the second place I believe the.Minister of Education hasn’t done his 'job. There hasn’t been justice.” Mr West: Perhaps we had better go into committee. Mr Jones: No. I want this reported. At a time like this we want all the manpower we can get and we should not let an able teacher like Mr Bowring go on the scrap-heap. A member said he could not understand why Mr Bowring had been permitted to retire when the Government had laid down a definite rule that there were to - be no teachers permitted to retire on superannuation during the war. It was decided to ask the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) for an explanation of the position.