NO UNION WANTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15500, 6 January 1914, Page 8

NO UNION WANTED.

DECISION OF TEACHERS.

UNPOPULAR PROPOSAL.

IDEALS OF PROFESSION.

A proposal to form a. union -with power to cite a case before the Arbitration Court was discussed yesterday at the meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute. The remit, which came from Hawke's Bay, was supported by Mr. J. Dnggan ; who said that by the term "union" he simply meant the teachers joining together for the purpose of conducting their own aSairs. The word was used advisedly to stress the point that a stronger form of unionism than the institute was necessary for their well-being. Without' making any reflections, there was a feeling amongst teachers that the present institute waa not strong enough to carry out its duties. Reforms had been suggested, but they had no power to stress them. "We have been outlining reforms for 30 years," he said, "and still the teaching profession is about the rottenest in the country, so far as salaries are concerned, and if we don't want the profession dragged in. the mire we will have to stand up and fight like men. What result have we ever had from our discussions?" asked the speaker. " This order-paper, to me, seems very like last year's paper and the one before. In 1911 we aimed to get a promotion scheme, and now it is 1914 and we are no further forward than we were then. It simply comes to this that the conference is a talk-ing-machine without th« power of enforcing reforms."

Continuing, he said that what was wanted was a closer form of corporate life such as that which obtained in connection with medical, legal, and other professions. It was not faith but organisation which removed mountains! It was organisation which enabled many of the New Zealand professional societies to get what they wanted, and it was the >ack of organisation which prevented the institute from getting what it wanted. He referred to the step taken by New South Wales teachers in registering as a trades union, and entering the field of politics, and went on to say that many teachers of New Zealand were disgusted with the institute. He estimated that the voice of fully 50 per cent, of them was not heard in-con-ference. He would advocate the appointment of a permanent secretary in Wellington to ensure centralisation, the recognition of the principle of preference to institute members after the manner practised by accounting and kindred societies, that in the event of a total deadlock With the Minister for Education they should have the right of appeal to the Arbitration Court, and the right of obtaining direct representation of the teaching profession on councils and boards of education.

"Rather Strong Samarks." Mr F. J. Rot-7% (Hawke's Bay) seconded th motion, and stated that though the mover had been rather strong in his remarks about the past work of the institute h e concurred with what ho had said concerning th heed for action. ' ?f r :, T- J?" ■ imDr °se (North Canterbury) said that his institute supported a migaton to form a New Zealand Council of Teachers, but not a union under the Arbitration Act.-. '." H ;'■'.■ Mr. H. K. Burns (Auckland) said that the position of teachers was' different from the position of trade unionists. The difference was due to the fact - that teachers were, in a special sense, the special servants of the • whole community, Tha parents were virtually the employers [ and the teachers th* employees; and there must be no conflict between, them. Their! inability to obtain improvement in the, past, was. not due to the weakness o' tKs constitution, but to the weakness of the operations of tt'. constitution. Their motions should not be the vague indefinite tkags they frequently were. * { Record of the * Sasiftvta. * Mr. G. Lippiatt (Auckland) traversed the-arguments raised by the mover, and instanced the Teachers' Court of Appeal the Colonial Scale of Staffs and Salaries, the Superannuation Fund, as the result? obtained by the institute. ....... " The 1 institute has, never been in. a' stronger position than it is at" present" said Mr. W. Phillips (Dunedin). It had never before had the support of Parli?ment and the general public which it now possessed. If they became unionist* theu ' order papers would simply speak : of I "salary, salary, salary." Tie institute stood for the beriefit of th© children, and the making of better citizens, and not merely for the material interests of the teachers. • k '- * Mr. Macdonald (Otago), after detailing a number of the things the institute ' had achieved, said that they, were educating the public up to see their views. He hoped the motion would bo rejected by a heavy vote.

Other speakers opposed the motion. "AM Ideals—Ho Salary." • In his reply, the mover, said that he recognised what the institute 'had done, but the question was whether or riot their position was satisfactory. y He had, nob advocated trades unionism, but' an amalgamated society, with a tiiarht of appeal to' the Arbitration Court. He did nul wish to throw ideals' away. He cherished some himself,", but they could not live on ideals. If the future, ' under his scheme, was to be fell salary and no ideals, the present *>ras all ideals and; no salary.

The motion was lost by a very large majority. °