TEACHERS' SALARIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18888, 22 December 1924, Page 5

TEACHERS' SALARIES.

NEW SOUTH WALES SCALE. COMPARISON WITH CANADA. A reported statement by him to the" effect that the New South Wales school- " teachers' salaries were the highest in (he world, was referred to by the Premier of New South Wales, Sir George Fuller, the other day. " What I actually said," said Sir George, " was 'that the teachers" salaries were the highest in Australia, and possibly in the world.' There is no question about their being the highest in Australia, as a comparison will show." A reference had been made, however, by a correspondent, said the speaker, to the salaries paid in Canada. Instances were given by him of a primary school teacher receiving £760 per annum, and the principals of high schools receiving £950. The average salary of male teachers was ..- '«*> also set down at £460. " 1 find," he continued, " on reference to the report of the " Minister For Education, Province of On--tario, for 1923. that (he highest salary paid to (lie principal of a high school decreased by 375 dollars on that paid for the previous year, while the average salary of male assistants decreased by 100 dollars. " The average salary paid to the prin-i cipal was 2580 dollars, or £560 per annum, calculated on an exchange basis of 4.60 dollars to the sovereign. In New South Wales (he minimum paid to a headmaster in a high school is £605 per annum. There arc here 23 headmasters in charge of high schools, who last year received £15.318 in salaries, averaging £666 per annum. There were also five headmistresses who received £2771, averaging £554 2s per annum. The average of principals of high schools, male and female, in this State, is, therefore. £610 2s per annum." " With regard to the salaries paid to primary teachers." added the Premier, it might be mentioned that.there are two headmasters in New South Wales who receive £841 and £782 per annum respectively, through their services in primary work, namely, in day and evening continuation schools. An important factor in the consideration of salaries in other countries is the relation of the salary to the cost of living. In Canada it is well known that the cost of living is high.