Teachers’ Salaries

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30056, 14 February 1963, Page 3

Teachers’ Salaries

Sir,—l have this morning inquired from both the Education Department and the Canterbury Education Board about payment of the 2| per cent, increase in salaries due to operate from July 26 last The most definite reply that I can obtain is that the arrears may come along “some time in March ” As one who through misfortune could well do with this small extra sum, I suggest that this

w unnecessary and unwarranted procrastination, and seek to know whether other government departments and/ or large private enterprises have displayed similar reluctance to get on with the job. Were we as headmasters

and class teachers, as dilatory in complying with the “suggestions” of the gentlemen who visit us with little notebooks, we would soon be channelled into professional backwaters or other walks of life.—Yours, etc., GREAT EXPECTATIONS. January 31, 1963. [The Director of Education (Mr A. E. Campbell) said: “The application of the 2} per cent wage increase to the salaries of employees (not only teachers) in the education service was quite a complicated matter and it was not until December 18, 1962. that the Director of Education was in a position to make the necessary determinations authorising the increases and lodge them with the Government Service Tribunal. The new rates will be incorporated in the first salary payments that teachers receive after the long vacation, that is, on February 13, 1963. The arrears from July 26, 1962, to January 29, 1963, will be paid as soon as possible, and it is hoped to be able to do this in March. Your correspondent will appreciate that as well over 20.000 employees are involved this is no light task. The teachers’ organisations have been fully informed of the situation and are well aware that the department is doing all it can to pay the arrears at the earliest possible date. I am unable to answer your correspondent’s inquiry about other Government departments and large private enterprises.”]