DISCOUNTS FOR TEACHERS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 23

DISCOUNTS FOR TEACHERS

Public Service Proposals

Officers of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute have flatly refused to comment on a scheme of discounts available to members.

“Inquiries are still being made for these (discount booklets) but the association that controlled and distributed them has been disbanded for 12 months now,” says a circular sent by the branch to members in the last week. “Another scheme of investment and of obtaining discounts is available to members and is becoming widely known in schools. For further information see me.” says the letter from the secretarv (Mr A. M. Grigor). Asked about the scheme. Mr Grigor inquired where the information had been obtained, said it was private, and refused to comment.

Inquiries among Public Service Association members indicated that the teachers are probably particioating in the Public Service Investment Society, “which although it has been refused discounts by the New Zealand Retailers* Federation, can still obtain good discounts through other channels.”

The Public Service Association members said the “discount booklets” association mentioned by the institute, was a scheme formerly operated bv a combined committee of Government employees in manv centres but all arrangements were made locally. Teachers. post and telegraph employees, railwaymen, and others were members. The committee simply found retailers who were prepared to offer discounts in return for the patronage of a substantial body of workers and issued members with a booklet, listing these businesses and giving accreditation for discount. The Public Service Investment Society existed primarily as a money club but also provided various other benefits to members. It had formerly enjoyed benefits from a considerable number of retailers throughout the country: but. since the Retailers’ Federation had “sabotaged” this aspect, discounts had had to be sought “elsewhere.”

The Canterbury branch of the Public Service Association last month decided to ask its national body to combine with other State services’ organisations to consider a consumers’ co-opera-tive commercial organisation. It learned that, four davs before, ♦he Public Service Investment Society had decided to investigate such a proposal of its own voliI tion.

Supporters of such a co-opera-tive organisation believe that its . business, from well over 100.000 s members and their families, would be an attractive proposi,tion for wholesalers and that all concerned would benefit.