Primary teachers’ pay rise again deferred

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 3

Primary teachers’ pay rise again deferred

The announcement of salary increases for primary-school teachers has been postponed again—this time for a week.

The Cabinet yesterday considered the list of salary adj ustments which were the result of a compromise in negotiations between the Education Services Committee and the Education Institute.

The president of the institute (Mr H. M. Hunter) said that the only reason the institute had agreed to the compromise list was because it believed that a decision on the claim would mean that teachers would receive theit arrears in salary before Christmas.

“Now, apparently, the Cabinet has asked for further information as it considers that some aspects are not clear,” he said. “Our members are going to be hopping mad about this further delay.”

Mr Hunter said thqt the institute’s executive was “completely confused” ovei the present situation. “Usually. Mr. Taiboys lets us know immediately if any decision has been taken—but there is now not likely to be any statement from the Cabinet until next week,” he said. Mr Shelton’s statement

The Acting Prime Minister (Mr Shelton) said in Wellington yesterday that he hoped a decision could be reached next week on the salaries, according to the Press Association.

He said that among the items on the Cabinet agenda for yesterday afternoon was

the matter of State aid to in-' dependent schools. A meeting of 256 secondary school teachers from the South and Mid-Canterbury and North Otago region ot the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association in Timaru yesterday unanimously agreed that the new salary structure proposed was essential in the

lover-all interests of the profession. it was a private meeting ; for members to hear a report on salary negotiations being conducted by the P.P.T.A. In attendance were the national president. Mr J. D. I Murdoch, of Christchurch, t and the general secretary, i Mr P. Boag, of Wellington.