TEACHER SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 3

TEACHER SOLDIERS

ENTITLED TO CIVIL PAY ? MATTER REFERRED TO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. At the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday, Mr E. P. Rishworth ’ suggested that all employees of tho board absent on military service, and not only those who ■had obtained commissions, should have their military pay made up to their civil pay. Of all employers, he declared, it seemed to him that the Government themselves wore the most remiss in encouraging men in that way to go on active service, and the Education Board appeared to be little, if any better than the Government departments. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken (chairman of tho board) stated that it was the Education Department that had settled the matter as it stood at present. The board had had nothing to do with it. Mr G. I/. Stewart (secretary), said that it was only the married commissioned officers who had their pay made up, not to civil pay, but to civil pay and a quarter. Mr Rishworth moved that tho suggestion be referred to the Education Department. The Government departments did more than any other employers in New Zealand to make the position difficult for the men. Mr W H. Field, M.P., seconded the resolution, and Mr B. A. Wright, M.P., strongly supported it. me City Council and the Harbour Board wore giving their employees on active service half-pay, and he thought that the Education Board should do tn© The chairman: “Yes, but the Eity Council and the Harbour Board are local bodies with rate incomes. »> e are a local body without such income; and to do as has been suggested we should need power sto levy a local ra The resolution was carried unanimously. ■