TALK OF DIRECT ACTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 281, 24 August 1944, Page 4

TALK OF DIRECT ACTION

Teachers Dissatisfied SECONDARY SCHOOL SALARIES There was some plain talking on the subject of salary increases when the New Zealand Secondary School Teachers’ Conference opened in Wellington yesterday. The chairman, Mr. W. Caradus (Mt. Albert) told the Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, that he could not remember so much bitter feeling in the profession in his 30 years of teaching. The Minister referred to the prejudging of a report before it had been seen. Later the conference discussed direct action. Addressing the conference the Minister said that the secondary field in education was not new, but in one respect it was not so old, in that it now catered for more students than it previously did, and therefore new problems appeared in this sphere. Educational needs must have true and honest consideration —iu Auckland recently he saw an example of criticism of a report which, did not exist; an attempt was made to discredit a report which was still in the future. How could one criticize a report that was not known? ,' . x “To a Minister that is not helpful to a feeling of confidence in representations from a quarter that prejudges a report before seeing it,” he said. “There one has a situation that is not at all helpful. We need more sincerity than that and need to bring more judgment to difficult problems. They are difficult, and worthy of our most serious consideration and judgment.” “Seething With Discontent.”

In reply to the Minister, Mr. Caradus said he could not remember so much bitter feeling in the profession in 30 years experience of teaching. The profession was seething with a discontent, and the Minister must know to what he was referring. . ' . “We have been promised a salary scale that is not going to give any relief woi th calling relief to a big section of the teachers,” he continued, “and if that is not remedied it will not be possible to get the work that is needed. The Prime Minister has referred to the patience of the secondary school teachers in waiting so long for an improvement in their salary conditions, but the promise of improvement is such that it cannot be considered satisfactory at all. An important effect is that on the new entrants to the profession. The quality is deteriorating, and it is not to be wondered, at.” “Our considered opinion is that the time has come for this conference to express an opinion on Mie use of direct action,” said Mr. G. Mcß. Salt (Auckland Grammar School), concerning recent action by the executive on the proposed salary schedules for the profession. Mr. Caradus said that the present salary schedule was brought down in 1921, and had been amended downward because of lowered cost of living in 1922. There had been an examination of the schedule in 1939 by a body on which the teachers had two representatives, and the new schedule was the result of that examination. Since 1922 the cost of living had risen by 20 to 30 per cent., and the conditions of secondary school teachers, like those of other workers, had deteriorated. The teachers’ representatives on the body which drew up the schedule had not been permitted to inform the association of the scale of salaries, and the Director of Education, in spite of repeated requests, had refused to allow the teachers •to be informed confidentially, stating that it was inadvisable. The new schedule had been thrust on them at the end of last year. Some of the people on the higher rates of salaries and some on the lower rates would receive an increase amounting to about 8 per cent., but a large Body of the teachers would not receive any worthwhile change. Steps by Executive. For three months the executive had been applying to the Stabilization Coinmission for a. rehearing of their application for salary increases, but no reply had been given. An application had gone forward 14 days ago from the secretary to the Prime Minister for him to receive a deputation. No reply had. been received to that. The Prime Minister had been asked on Tuesday if he would receive them at 2 p.m.. yesterday, while the conference was sitting, but no reply had been received. “The question now is,” said Mr. Caradus, “what next?” Mr. Salt said there were three courses open. The new schedule could be. accepted, but he thought that was definitely not in accord with the temper of the teachers. It could be accepted as a temporary measure; he and his colleagues felt that would be useless. Now was the time to act, and it would be foolish to accept the schedule as a temporary measure. “The third course, and the only course left, is some form of direct action or limited direct action,” declared Mr. Salt. “We have come to realization that unless some such action is taken the whole thing can be washed out.” It had been said that the child would be the sufferer if teachers took direct action. In his opinion the present proposals were affecting the child much more seriously because they would affect the type of candidate offering for the profession, “If the standard is as low as most of us think, the child is certainly going to suffer.” Full direct action meant a strike. Limited direct action would he something like exclusion of all work outside , the classroom and rigid adherence to the timetable. Mr 11. W. Slater said lie felt they might alienate themselves with the public by direct action, and would be associating themselves with elements which were unpopular at the present time. Miss E. M. North, Wellington, favoured further and immediate application to the Prime Minister to receive a deputation. Public opinion had changed in the past few months. The time to act was now. Miss Smith, Auckland, suggested that the secretary endeavour immediately to contact the Prime Minister's secretary and see if Mr. Fraser would meet a, deputation before conference rose on Friday. This was agreed to by delegates.. Mr J. Colquhoun, Palmerston North, moved: “That the executive be instructed that'if it was dissatisfied with the position it should bring before conference a resolution setting down h definite time when secondary school teachers shall vote whether they would go ou strike. ’ He said he had no instruction from Ins branch how to vote on a strike proposal. Mr. O. Doel, Palmerston North, seconded. He said he felt limited direct action would be tolerated till the teachers got tired of it. , , , . The secretary reported that he had telephoned the' Prime Minister’s secretary and tlic Prime Minister had fixed Friday, at 11 a.m., for the deputation. It was agreed to adjourn further discussion till after the deputation had made its report.