TEACHERS’ ORGANISATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 306, 24 November 1932, Page 4

TEACHERS’ ORGANISATION.

EVIDENCE ON SUPERANNUATION. 3VELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Further evidence on behalf of teachers’ organisations was given yesterday before the special Parliamentary Committee on the Government Superannuation Funds Bill. Official statements were presented setting out the views of the Secondary Schools’ Association of New Zealand and of the 33 T omen Teachers’ Association. The views of the Secondary Schools’ Association of New Zealand were stated by 3Jr P. 3lartin-Smith. The state of the teachers’ superannuation fund, he said, was due almost entirely to default on the part of the State, and the State should in any readjustment that was necessary hear its full share. The fund had admittedly not been established or administered on an actunrially sound basis, and the teachers’ superannuation scheme had now been in operation for a considerable time. 33 : hile ideally it might be right and proper to put the fund on a sound actuarial basis, the association asked whether, in view of all circumstances, and especially its faith in the integrity of the Government, this was in practice necessary or desirable.

“There is a special case to be made out for secondary teaclrers,” said 3lr 3fartin-Smith. “Their work is of an especially arduous and exacting nature, and so their age of retirement should not be raised. They join the fund at a comparatively ' late age. There are no sudden promotions on the eve of retirement. They contribute a minimum of 5 per cent, on their salaries. Tho secondary teachers have placed full confidence in tho State guarantee. “Proposals on which the secondary teachers are willing to compromise, provided that the State fulfils its obligations in full and continues for nil time its £1 for £1 subsidy, and providing that the right of election to pay in on the salaries before or after the salary cuts is reopened, nre: The computation of the retiring allowance on the last five years of service; the removal of the' £3OO bar; the prevention of the right to retire at a comparatively early age; the placing of early voluntary retirements I on an actuariaily computed retiring allowance.

Proposals to which secondary teachers are radically opposed are:—The raising of the retiring age of men to 65 and of women to 60; the computation of the retiring allowance on the last 10 years of service.