TEACHERS' SALARIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 342, 31 October 1908, Page 5

TEACHERS' SALARIES.

, FIGHTING FOR THE MINIMUM,

The general outcry which was raised over the announcement, published in The Dominion of Monday last, that the Minister for Education (Hon. G, Fowlds) had ruled that under the salaries provisions ■of the Education Act Amendment Act those teachers whoso present salaries were below the minimum specified for their positions would not be raised to that minimum upon the coming into operation of the Act on January I, 1909, has by this time subsided, so far as tho outward and visible signs of discontent are concerned, and tho teachers have quietly settled down to the sterner side of the question—the task of. convincing the Minister that his ruling is, in offect, quite contrary to the generally accepted interpretation of the salaries clauses, and that a grave injustice will be perpetrated should he bo unablei to see his' way to amend his first statement.

The public has been waiting, with interest, for some expression of opinion from the local bteneh of the Now Zealand Educational Institute. A number of Wellington teachers are affected, and the gravity of the situation, coupled witn the fact that the present moment, as being in close proximity to the general election, offers a psychological opportunity for a strong and united expression of opinion from the District Teachers', Institute. Tho Executive Committee of the New • Zealand Educational Institute is leaving nothing undone in their- guardianship of the interests of the profession, and the moral effect of a unanimous protest from all district branches should be of very valuable assistance, to the parent bodv in its difficult task. The latest news in that direction confirms our anticipation that the local institute, has realised its responsibility and duty in tho matter. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington branch will be held at 10 o'clock this to consider the position, when it is 4 anticipated that a special general meeting of the institute will be convened for an early date.

MR. J. A. HANAN'S VIEWS. Mr. J. A. Hanan, chairman of tho Parliamentary Committee on Education, was, states a Press Association telegram from Invercargill dated yesterday, interviewed by the Southland, Teachers' Institute. _ Mr. -Hahan expressed surpriso at tho Minister's cotistruction • of. the Act. Throughout the taking of ovidenco by the Education Commit'teejv<tlie assumption had boon that tho increases would be immediato, and that, he believed, was the prevailing impression among -members. Ho admitted that the Minister's interpretation was quite tenable, but it would involve ' injustices not contemplated. Mr. Hanan promised to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister.