TEACHERS’ AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 304, 17 September 1921, Page 12

TEACHERS’ AFFAIRS

MEETING OF INSTITUTE

THE SUPERANNUATION ACT The last meeting of the Wellington Branch of tho Educational institute was presiiled over by Air. A. C. Blake. Amendments to tho Superannuation Act were suggested in a circular letter from the secretary of tho New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr. 11. A. i'arkinSOU). The letter states: —*‘I have, at the instruction. of th© executive, written to ■ the Minister strongly urging that the time has arrived when consideration should be given to the question of tiesired amendments to Ihe buperaunualion Act. .»t is the opinion of the executive that a good deai may be done l\y members oi tnc institute in keeping xheir local members cl Parliament well posted with the matters that require attention. In iny letter to the Minister I have referred to the principal of these —training college service, military service, increased allowance to widows, and inclusion of house allowance. On these points members of Parliament shouid be supplied with information, and should also be urged to- uso their influence to see that the subject is not allowed fa be passed over tor a further term. With regard to those soldier teachers who have not been allowed to count their military service because they were not members cf tho fund before enlisting, it is particularly advisable that they should be warned individually to place their cases before the local M.P.’s so that these maybe in possession of actual facts illustrative of tho hardship which these teachers will suffer, if, as the time for retirement approaches, they have to continue in thy service for several years —four or five years in some cases —longer than those who had. the good fortune to join tho fund before going on service, or who, perhaps, had not gone on service at all. Tho greatest danger is that the subject may bo allowed to bo crowded out for another year; and the best means of avoiding that is to keep members of Parliament well acquainted with tho facts.” It was decided to set up a Remits Committee to discuss remits for the next annual conference, tho personnel to be decided later.

In reply to a letter forwarded by the presillent, the Director of Education- (Mr. J. Caughley) intimated that the law did not permit tho institute to take part in the election of the Technical Education Board, but that steps would probably- be taken to introduce a definition of the term ‘'industry” that would suitably meet the needs of the case.

On tho motion of Air. Al'Kenzie, seconded by Mr. Edwards, it L was resolved "that tho branch considers that a greater number of efficient relieving teachers should bg available for the Wellington Educational District.

A report from Messrs. A. C. Blake and A. M'Kenzio regarding a visit made by them to the Cuba Street portion of tho Technical College was received. Both members characterised tho existing conditions as disgraceful, and tho following motion was carried: “That this branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, while recognising in principle that tho interests of primary education must come first, is of opinion that the action of tho Government in refusing to grant sufficient votes to render habitable that part of the AVellington Technical College already in course of construction is regrettable, Ixith on account of injustice so far inflicted on the staff of tho college, and tho wastage involved in allowing the costly building so near completion to remain unfinished, and urges the Government to regard it as a primary object to remove the injustice that for years past has been done to 'Wellington "in the matter of technical instruction.” It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Alinistcr of Education.