GOVERNMENT SUPERANNUATION FUNDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13421, 23 October 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

GOVERNMENT SUPERANNUATION FUNDS.

TO THE EDITOH. Sir,—Over tho initials "J. J." we liavo a comparison of tho justice meted out by the Government to toachci's. I say tho Government because I have I icon led to believe that unless ,the teacher kow-towed to tho Premier nothing wotdd have beengiven. "J. J." without difficulty shows how the teacher is unjustly treated, but wonders why such should be? There" is no "mystery" about the matter, When a tentative scheme was placed before the New Zealand Educational Institute that body set forth what it wanted by a number of amendments to tho bill brought down by Sir Joseph Ward. The executive of the'institute failed to support them with that wholeheartcdness. necessary to warrant success, and the Journal of Education oven failod to publish these amendments in full. Thon those working for the right were designated dcrogatorily " amateurs," and the promiso of the chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives that widows and orphans should not bo forgotten , was not believed. Yet Mr Baumo kept his promise. "J. J." asks: "Is it Ixicauso teachers do not degrade themselves by political pressure to bear?" Surely "J. J." i s poking fun. Teachers (no, not all) reiterated ad nauseam that the Premier's will must, he obeyed as if the Premier ruled by Divine right. X might say, in passing, that it has been through such abject subservience that the Premier has dared to presume to act beyond' the rights of his office. It. has resulted ;hat a comparison of our women teachers, having no . greater rights for consideration than servant girls, was made by the Minister of Railways. This willingness to give way was shown during the pressnt ses-ion, We shall fight for more, but if the Premier is obdurate we shall take wlut he offers. Mr F. G. Cray rightly stated true men's opinion of such subservienos. Teachers have themselves to blame for the treatment they have received. They know that they possessed rights; but. thev would not with one voice demand them. Expediency was of more consequence. All this from mo may lie through " vindietiveness," vet I have the consciousness of having boldly stated my opinions on these lines at every meet'iig of the New Zealand Educational Institute that- I was privileged to attend. I would thank Mr F. Baumo and the members of the Education Committee for what modicum of justice wo liavo received.—l am, etc., October 17. A. Morris Babn-ett.