PARITY ASKED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30528, 25 August 1964, Page 9

PARITY ASKED

“While the salaries announced go a long way to accepting the vital principle of parity with Australia, we regret that the principle has not yet been fully implemented,” said Dr. M. McCaskill and Dr. J. D. Stewart, chairmen respectively of the Canterbury and Lincoln branches of the Association of University Teachers, in a joint statement. “For sub-professional staff New Zealand universities will, in the immediate future, be able to compete with Australia and the United Kingdom on the basis of approximately equal salaries. “However, the basic New Zealand professorial salary will be substantially lower than the Australian figure and much less than the British average. The salaries of Australian readers and professors are now under review and are expected- to increase soon. “Our association acknowledges the fair hearing given by the Prime Minister, Minister of Education, the Committee on. Higher Salaries, and the University Grants Committee. “University standards can be maintained in New Zealand only so long as there is salary parity with Australia. Already there are 180 New Zealanders in Australian university posts—enough to staff fully one medium-sized university—but there' are as few as 24 Australians here. We believe that New Zealand cannot afford to allow this traffic to develop into a virtual one-way movement. “While welcoming the Government’s action in respect of university buildings the association remains convinced that university standards will be in danger of decline, unless staff of the right calibre can be appointed,” the chairman said.

Due Today.—H.M.A.S. Anzac.a Battle class destroyer, is due at Lyttelton at 9 a.m. today and will berth at No. 4 West wharf.