UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 5

UNIVERSITY COMMISSION

A PROFESSORIAL COMPLAINT INADEQUATE SUPERANNUATION BENEFITS The Royal Commission on University Education —Sir Harry Rudolf Reichel and Mr Frank Tate—sat again yesterday afternoon. ... Professor W. N. Rcnson, in Iris evidence, said that on behalf of the Otago branch of the University Teachers’ Association of New Zealand he desired to express concurrence with the representations placed before the Commission in Wellington by the General Executive of the associalion, and call special attention to certain items therein regarding the conditions under which University teachers were working here.

The standard full-time professional salary in Otago University wng £SSO, though ranging up to £I,OOO in the Medical School. There was, however, no regular grading of positions, and especially in regard to the junior members of the stall' there was no system of promotion with increase in salary with seniority which would assure a icasonable competence if they remained in the University service.

While supporting strongly the statements made that the junior positions in the University wore insufficiently paid and were often “ blind alleys,” they desired to emphasise idle ill-effect of these conditions on the progress of the University. No professor could safely plan any scheme of development of the work of his department or extensive researches involving specialisation and partition of duties between Ids assistants and himself, as lie had no assurance of their continued co-operation. Especially in the smaller departments, where only part-time assistants' positions were available, flic professor was cither without any assistant for lack of suitable candidates for the position, or his energies were dissipated in training a succession of assistants in the routine work immediately necessary only to lose their services in a venr or two.

The lack of inducement to junior in embers of t lie staff to become sufficiently experienced to act as understudies to the professors made it difficult to arrange for the carrying on of the departmental work in their absence, .Further, it should he recognised that it: was greatly to the interest of the efficiency of the University Unit its teachers should be enonraged to travel and bring back to it from time to time fresh ideas and inspiration. It did not appear a, wise policy which had hitherto been followed—namely, to grant leave of absence for six months to a teacher after eight or ton years’ service only on the condition that he supplied an efficient substitute to continue his work and that the University was not involved in any expense. It should be emphasised that, under (he present scale of remuneration, even if such leave of absence wore granted by the council, teachers often could not be expected to travel for such purposes entirely at tboir own expense. Jt was realised, however, that this policy might be forced on college councils by their present financial difficulties.

The Government scheme for file superannuation of teachers assumed the commencement of employment at an early age with the payment of a small percentage on a rising salary, the pension being calculated on the averaged retiring salary, and in no case exceeding £.‘loo. If, was therefore not suitable for professors who, as a rule, entered between the ages of thirty and forty years and paid at a higher rale on what was normally a fixed salary. When the scheme was made available for professors the standard professori.il salary was £GOO. and the bench's received fmin the Government scheme were comparable with those afforded by an insurance company. In view of the greater protection afforded to dependents by the insurance policies in case of premature decease, a number of professors did not avail themselves of the upper--1 unity to enter the Government scheme. Now that the professorial salaries bad been raised to an average value of £".">() and contributions were still levied at the former percentage rates, but without any increase in the maximum pension obtainable, the position of the prolessors who were now compel led to enter the scheme was very disadvantageous. 1 n regard to another branch of the Public Service (the magistracy), the needs of those who, like the professors, entered the service when of mature ago and remained therein at relatively uniform salary, had been reorganised, and provision made accordingly in the Finance Act of ]924. The surrender values of the contributions in ease of withdrawal at any time were fur less I ban what might have been obtained by regular investment of the same money under favorable conditions. The pensions given to professors were never more than two-liiirds ol those given In magistrates tor precisely the same contributions. The pensions obtainable by the majority of professors from the Government scheme were less than those obtainable undo)' identical conditions iron) an insurance company. An insurance policy afforded a fair protection from the outset for the profes.'or’s dependents, but the protection derived from the Government scheme in case of early death was almost: negligible, and even at maturity it. was not halt that given by insurance. Neverilieh"-s, in the majority ol ernes the cash surrender value at sixty-five of the Government benefit, was less than Hint of the insurance policy. The disadvantages of tho Government, scheme applied to those in receipt of salaries of more than £>’■3o, or who retired at a hi lor age Hum) MXly-five years, were proportionately greater than those here indicated. It would be apparent. (herelore, tha t the provision that till professors appointed must contribute to the Cover..ment superannuation scheme as at present, operating was tantamount to imposing oil them a special and heavy tarnation against which repented pioiest had been made. The association was strongly of the opinion that if the prolessors wort' to remain compulsory contributors .to a Government, insurance scheme, justice demanded Hull. llmv should receive benefits on lim same ■scale as magistrates. bailing tins, it suggested that the Goveriii,:i , ni anil universities-conjointly pay o:m-nalt of the contributions of the icacher> (:s provided in the Bill lor British teachers now before the House of Commons) ; and that: every prolcs.-or 'lionld have the option of entering citner the Government superannuation '•chime, or an approved form of insurance (a,-, was provided in the current federated scheme for British teachers). Further, it. desired that two other provisions in the above-mentioned British (Idl’d) Bill should bo incorporated into the New Zealand Government scheme--viz., (I) a reciprocity arrangement, wherein- university teachers entering or .caving New Zealand may transfer their former superannuation interests iiom or to Britain and the other dominions; (2) the provision that, compound interest at a rate not less than d per cent, should be. added to all contributions withdrawn from the Government fund owing to the resignation or premature death of tho contributor.

In supporting a. sabbatical year, Professor Benson emphasised the opinion that the leave of absence gran loci to a professor might be of immense value to the students as well ns to niinsolf. With regard to superannuation, university professors and public: servants made contributions to a Government fund, and iu one case the allowance's were about half of what they wo;e in the other. There was no limit u> the amount paid to magistrates, unereas in the case of professors there was a limit of £3UD.

HO illE ECONOMICS

EXTENSION OE WORK URGE#, j A statement was presented by Mrs S, M. Park and Mrs 11. E. Barrowdough cm behalf of the Homo Economics Association. It was urged that the work of the association should bd brought within the scheme of university extension lectures. The above association had been in existence for four years, ami had for its aims; (1) The improvement of conditions of living in the homo by a study of all phases of home life; 1,2) the increase of such knowledge of food, clothing, and housa management, with studies of relative values as will enable homemakers to solve their own and community problems; (d) tbo raising of the standard of life and health by eliminating unnecessary labor and waste. Each year the association at ranged a series of lectures designed especially for and attended by representative# from each branch, who passed on to members the subject matter of The lectures. In addition, special lectures by leading men and women in the spheres of medicine, dentistry, and home science are arranged, and are largely attended. ! Hitherto the work had been earned on largely with the assistance and ad- : vice of members of the home science department. Their services had been rendered unofficially, gratuitously, and quite apart from their regular duties • as members of the staff. It was now felt , that if the growing, demands for this specific instruction from all parts of ' the dominion was to bo met, the work must be brought officially under _ the; control of the University authorities, and a regular and salaried staff appointed to organise and supervise. It had been proved from experience that branch leaders, being lay women, however enthusiastic, required the help and guidance of tranied home science experts. The proposed organisation would be under the control of the dean of the home science faculty,in the same wav as the professor of economics directs the W.E.A., and the extension ■' staff would lie responsible for spreading the activities’ of the H.E.A. beyond the cities into the provincial towns and country districts. Public Health reports and reports of school medical officers furnished abundant proof of the urgent need of the desired instruction throughout- town and country alike. The deputation drew the attention of the Commission to the success which had attended similar organisations in England, Canada, and the United States. In England and Canada the work vvent under the name of women’s institutes. In Canada and the United States work along similar lines was done through tbo Homo Science Association, and was maintained by State and Federal funds, and in most’States was directly associated with the home science departments of the State universities.

This extension service was one of the most vital forces improving home and health conditions in these _ countries. The Otago Home Economics _Association had just admitted to affiliation the Christchurch Home Economics Association, and the petitioners felt assured that, were tho desired aid granted, such a forward movement throughout the dominion would take place as would result in the greatlyimproved health, physique, and mentality of the people m New > Zealand. Mrs Park said the association had been unable so far to go into the country districts and hold schools for) say, a week. Such a tiling would be very desirable, but it would mean that tho expenses of several women would have to be paid. The association thought that the. people in the country might be reached bv bulletins. In conjunction with the Y.AV.C.A. the association had during the winter session held evening classes tor those contemplating marriage and those working during the djiv. Mr Tate expressed the opinion that if the association utilised the resources it had at present it could extend its work very much. It was a vigorous body, and if it was self-reliant it was likely to develop further. COURT OF CONVOCATION STATKMFNT BY DR MOORE. Dr Stuart Monro contended that! there should be an active recognition by ihe other courts of the University that a university consists not only ol; colleges, teachers, and students but also of graduates. The courts of convocation should bo inoro frequently consulted than was the custom some few years hack They should have a large representation on the council and senate. Originally in Otago it t\as enacted that'convocation should elect the whale “senate” of Otago University. The election of members of senate and of councils should imply a statutory meeting of tha court at which nominations should close. _ Those Rtatotorv meetings were abolished by the K 7. U. Amemlniniil Act, 1902, and by the University of Otago Conned Act, ]9it, No oilier court of the University should nominate any ofiiccis of tho courts of convocation.

Graduates should possess some power of veto by plebiscite of, e.g., important ch;Mif('s in 1 lio constitution oi the tMiiversitV. If the electorate (a) secondary school teachers, (h) primary school teachers were to continue, graduates should have the privilege of voting hoih as inomhors ol the court nnd ,03 teachers. It shouM he a statutory provision tiial n chairman of each district, court of convocation should exist, and if slmnid he oh I iua I ory on tho registrar of'the I’niversilv of the district to call a meeting to elect a chairman m the case of a vacancy occurring.