THE TEACHING PROFESSION

Evening Star, Issue 15281, 5 September 1913, Page 3

THE TEACHING PROFESSION

REPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. CONDITIONS TO BE IMPROVED. A deputation from the Secondary School Teachers' Association laid a number of grievances before the Minister of Education. Mr Lundi (Palmerston North) submitted to the Minister a schedule of salaries proposed as follows:—First year: Masters, £220 ; mistresses, £lbo.' Second year: Masters, £225; mistresses, £195. Third year: Masters, £250; mistresses, £2lO. Fourth year: Masters, £275; mistresses, £225. 'Fifth year-: Masters, £290; mistresses, £240. Sixth year: Masters, £305 ; mistresses, £255. Seventh vear : Masters. £320: mistresses.. £270. Eighth ytar: Masters, £335; mistresses, £2BO. Ninth year: Masters, £350; mistresses, £290. Tenth year :' Masters, £365 ; mistresses, £295. Tho scheme also proposed that masters of from 10 to 20 years' service should receive annual increments of £ls until £515 was reached, and that mistresses of the eame term of service .should receive £lO yearly until £4OO was reached. Extra provision was also ma.de for thoso teachers who were ".specialists." There were some 208 secondary teachers; and the increase would be between £25,000 and £30.000 per year. 'Mr Gifford touched on the quest ion of superannuation, and asked that eeenndary teachers bo placed on the same footing as the Civil servants. He pointed out that the Civil servants received superannuation bas j :d on three years during which they received the higher salary, whereas the teachers' was based oh the last three years they were in the profession. In replying, tho Minister said one. fact occurred to him regarding the superannuation proposal. If this were based on three jears of highest salaries it might mean going back 15 or 20 years to assess tlr.' si:iv>ranni7ation. Tin's would mcsMi that during the intervening years the contributions would be mads on the basis of a smaller ealary than was being received previously. He readily admitted that inequalities existed in regard to the superannuation of secondary echool teachers. The public servants were taxed on a different basis. Candidly, he did not think it fair. There was no solid reason why there should bo any difficulty in fairly adjusting superannuation as far as secondary teachers were concerned. It would be wrong to deal with the matter in a slipehod way. Tho whole matter would have to receive very careful consideration. He had not had time so far to go into these anomalies, but ho would givo them an assurance that, as far as be himself was concerned he would endeavor to see that the inequalities were removed. Ho fully recognised that the secondary teachers were underpaid, and as the responsible Minister they had his sympathy. He had alreadv made in-ovision for some of the teachers in the district high schools and the primary schools. The points laid before him would have his very earnest attention during the recess, and mext year legislation would be brought down, dealing with the salaries of teacheris of the primary and secondary schools. "I desire to make your lot better," the Minister added, " and my promise is not an idle one."