UNIVERSITY SALARIES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28658, 7 August 1958, Page 10

UNIVERSITY SALARIES

Competition With Australia (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, August 6. The New Zealand University Senate today requested the Grants Committee to ask the Government to recognise and.carry out, without delay, the principle of making university salaries competitive with those in Australia. The resolution was moved by Professor A. G. Davis (Auckland) after the Grants Committee had reported that it advised the Government of its intention to apply for an increased salary scale for university staff; but after discussions with the Prime Miriister (Mr Nash), and the Minister of Finance (Mr . Nordmeyer) and Education (Mr Skoglund), and taking into account the financial condition of the country, the application was deferred. There was a grave risk, not only that the present salary scale would not attract staff, but that it would lose staff, said Professor Davis. There had been three and a half columns of advertisements of university appointments vacant in a newspaper recently. Of these, five were in New Zealand and 32 in Australia.

A lecturer-in geology wanted by the University of Auckland would receive £1350 to £1650 (senior) or £1025 io £1225. A lecturer in geology at the University of Sydney, however, would receive from £l5OO to £2lOO, plus the advantages of a staff housing scheme. Taxation Taxation was also a matter of great moment to anyone considering taking a position in New Zealand, said Professor Davis. A married man with three children, on a salary of £2OOO, paid £9B 15s 6d in Australia and received £65 in child benefits. Here, he paid £383 16s in tax and received £ll7 in child benefit. The Vice-Chancellor (Dr G. A. Currie) said it was no use saying that the salaries should compete “as soon as economic conditions permit.” The Government might never say that they permitted.

Mr E. C. Fussell said that it was no use having buildings, and a policy of admission for all who were fit, unless the universities offered salaries which would secure adequate staff for the buildings and students. Dr. J. Williams, Vice-Chancellor of the Victoria University, said there would be a 120 per cent, increase in university staff needed in the Dominion within the next six years.