HEADMASTERS MEET

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 196, 16 May 1930, Page 3

HEADMASTERS MEET

“INADEQUATE SALARIES’’ Dissatisfaction with the salaries at ■ present paid to senior headmasters was expressed at the annual meeting ot the Primary Schools’ Headmasters’ Association yesterday. The secretary (Mr. F. W. Moore) said that the association’s claim to improved salary conditions at the top had not been disputed in any quarter. Three successive Ministers had acknowledged that the senior headmasters were underpaid, and the present Minister had repeatedly stated that the position was indefensible and would be remedied as soon as the finances would permit. Members considered that in view of the concessions gained in recent years by other branches of the Government service, the senior head--.. masters were entitled to first considers.- : tion. Since 1920 there hail been no in- ; crease in the maximum, which stood at only 26 per cent, above the rates paid in 1914. Several members emphasised ; the lack of inducement to improve efficiency resulting from the present system. , Many headmasters reached the maxi- ; mum before the completion of 30 years’ ■ service, and in the remaining ten years . or more had no hope of advancement. ’ The disparity between primary ■ and ; secondary salaries was also the subject of considerable discussion. It was stated that the duties and responsibilities of the headmaster of a large primary school, together with the less favourable conditions under which he worked, warranted a claim for equality with those in equivalent positions in the secondary and technical services. It was decided that the incoming ex- : ecutive formulate a policy for the year, - and investigate the Thornton salary ; scale as a possible solution of the difficulty.

Officers were elected as follow:—President. Mr. L. F. de Berry (Dunedin); vice-presidents, Messrs. IV. A. Swinbourn (Palmerston North), and AV. F. Abel (Dunedin) ; advisory members of executive, Messrs. H. F. Penlington (Christchurch) and F. W. Moore (Palmerston North).