INCREASED SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 23, 22 October 1918, Page 3

INCREASED SALARIES

: e REMEDY FOR THE SHORTAGE IN NUMBERS MEETING OF WOMEN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION At the monthly meeting of the Women Teachers' , Association .(Wellington branch) Miss Coud g. \j an address dealing •■with the l'omcdy i'or tho shortage of teachers. In discussing the matter, Miss Coad stated that increase of salary was the only remedy for this state cf affairs, but it had to be understood that the question before the meeting was not that of equal p- 4 y for equal work, although it undoubtedly bore upon the matter at issue. It was quite true that there was no legal bar to women teachers occupying tho highest positions in the profession, but as a mntter of fact things wera eo adjusted that at least 65 per cent, received salaries of JJliO and less, while none of the highest positions wero occupied by women. Some people would criticise this action on the ground that the question of salaries should be Ijft to the N.Z.8.1. . Although the institute did support women's claims, Miss Coad held tha> the women's point of view could be better ascertained at a women's meeting. It was more difficult to get her point of view ot a mixed meeting. In the general scramble for salaries there was a danger of women teachers being lost altogether. When the Act of 19U was passed those teachers with Grade 2 salaries, .£l2O to received no increaso at all. As to the question of the evening, that of the remedy for the shortage of teachers, women, Miss Coad contended, were not placed on tho same financial standing es women in certain other departments. For instance, in the Publio Service professional cadets (matriculated) received for the first year, if living at home, .£7O; away from homo, .£88; second year, .£BS or .£9B; third year, .£IOO or £W; fourth year, ,£120; and fifth year, £HO. The matriculated teacher received for tho first year, if living at home, JE6O; away from home, ,£BS; second year, ,£6O and ,£BS; third and fourth years, .£SO and .£73; fifth year, ,£l'lo. The cadet had less study, and therefore less expense, with an assured prospect of an increase without moving from her office. No country service was required. A teacher had more study, and therefore moro expense in preparing for her work, and sho had the hardship of a backblocks school in prospect. ' Hotel workers (women) received a total of .£147 l2s. a year. Shorthand writers and typists received ,£9B to commence, and .£lO3 after six months' service; £lli the second year; .£l2O tho third year; and .£132 the fourth year. The necessary qualifications were: tho proficiency certificate for Standard VI and speed certificate for 80 words a minuto in shorthand, ' and 30 words a minute in typewriting. Comparing this with the. teacher's salary, Miss Coad showed that the latter received for the first and second years, .£65 and JGBS; and for the third and fourth years, .£SO and £75; fifth year, ,£llO. The.qualification for .£6O was matriculation, and for ,£llO four years in training as pupil teacher and Training College student's teacher's certificate in "C" or "D.," and country service Comparing the woman clerk in the Civil Sorvico\with the assistant teacher—for the former thevo was on efficiency bar at ,£165, but if sho were efficient sho could proceed by annual increments of i'ls to .£220, without moving from office to office. The woman teacher could bo blocked at .£l2O or £HO, no matter how efficient or responsible her work, what examinations sho might havo passed,, or whether 6he was in town or country. The following figures also showed how badly tho majority of teachers were paid;— 379 received ,£llO to £120; 1728 received £120 to £140; 1107 received £150 to £180; or 73 per cent, of teachers received £151 18s. or less.

Some of the arguments that had been used against increasing women teachers' salaries wero reviewed by Miss Cond, who said that these held good in other professions also. Passing on to the argument as to whether it was worth while increasing their, salaries,. Miss Coad expressed the opinion- that it resolved itself into tho question, whether it was worth while getting a bettor and more adequate supply or teachers. No one could expect the ambitious and brainy girl 'to enter tho profession under present conditions. Law, medicine, dentistry, etc., offered more attractions and more money. It paid other girls better to become ~typists, clerks, etc. They were sure of more pay in less time and with least trouble and expense than the teacher. War had no doubt contributed to tho shortage, but tho trouble was there before war began? Tho real cause was the poor inducement offered as the years went on. Speaking "of the importance of the work, Miss Cond said that tho shorter hours of teachers were more than counter-balanced. by tho high pressure under which they worked. A teacher's responsibilities wero also very groat. Miss Coad held thnt tho remedy for the shortage of teachers was a financial which meant taxation, and the three mijlion pounds which some people were asking for were not too much. Tho motion that the minimum salary for the certificated teacher be .£l5O, rising by ,£ls increments to ,£2OO, was put to the meeting and carried.'