Delegates From Schools Oppose Strike

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 16

Delegates From Schools Oppose Strike

Strike action over caretakers’ wages—as it was described at the Canterbury School Committees’ , Association meeting last evening—did not find favour with many delegates. There had been a tremendous amount of criticism of the resolution suggesting a one-day closure of schools passed by the association’s annual meeting, said Mrs G. E. Boyd. What would the teachers and the caretakers do while the children had such a glorified holiday? She thought it could be termed a lockout.

Mrs Boyd moved that the resolution passed at the annual meeting be rescinded. This was seconded and discussed, but subsequently ruled by the chairman, Mr C. W. Memory (Shirley Intermediate) out of order, as notice of motion to rescind was reouired. Mr H. R. Atkinson (Walmairi), who seconded Mrs Boyd’s motion, questioned whether every avenue had been explored bv the association in trying to improve caretakers’ wages. “Have out efforts failed so badly that we have to have this strike action?” he said. Mr K. I. Pillidge (Shirley) said it was Quite wrong to take direct action to suppbrt the cause of caretakers by using schoolchildren as a weapon.

After several delegates had reported that their committees opposed strike action, Mrs M. E. Rae (Christchurch East) —who moved the resolution passed at the annual meeting—challenged the motion on a point of order. She

was upheld by the chairman. Mr Pillidge then gave notice that he would move to have the resolution rescinded at the association’s next meeting. Another speaker said that the notice of motion should not be thought to show that the association had no sympathy with the cause of better wages for caretakers. “It is just that we have gone the wrong way about it,” he said. The publicity already given on caretakers’ wages might have achieved the purpose better than the resolution. A voice: Not if you rescind