TEACHERS' SALARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14359, 31 October 1908, Page 5

TEACHERS' SALARIES

EXPLANATION BV THE .MINISTER

(Fnost Our Own* Cop.r.KSPOKDENT.) AUCKLAND, October 30. In his speech last night the Hon. fx. l'ow Ids made further inference to teachers' salaries, lie said that the whole question was a very complicated and difficult mattei'. The position was surrounded with technicalities and difficulty, and no matter what Measure. had been elaborated it would not have given satisfaction to all. The first, difficulty be had faced was, be said, to get his colleagues to agree to a sum of money sufficient for the increase of the teachers' salaries, and when thai. v)ns assured it was necessary to got Hie conditions possible for lhat money for the touchers. Then came the question of fixing an automatic increase of £5 per annum on the minimum for teachers until they reached the maximum of their particular class. Before this act- was brought in schools with an attendance below 15 were not graded schools, but a.s soon as the act came .into operation schools between 'line and 15 would be graded, a.ud the. teachers for the first, time would receive a, minimum salary of £90, rising to £120. Tho object of the bill wa.s not only to provide better salaries for tho teachers, but to provide a better system of promotion for them.—(Applause.) He was perfectly satisfied that Me great body of the teacheis throughout Xow Zealand would lie benefited by the act. While there woidd doubtless be some disappointment, it would be realised that a great measure of justice bad been done to them. As far as lay in his powe* there would bo a sympathetic interpretation of that measure, in which ho had taken so much interest.—(Applaud.)

MR 11 AX AX',S OPINION. (Pee UxiTitn Pressi Association.) INVEIvCAPiGILL, October 30. In view of the keen disappointment of Southland teachers that the minimum salaries under tho jicw scale arc apparently jiot to come into force next year, the Teachers' Institute interviewed Mr Hanan, M.P., who expressed surprise at the Minister s interpretation of the act-, throughout tiie taking of evidence bv the Education Committee the assumption had been that )the would be immediate, and that, he believed, was the prevailing impression among members of Parliament. He admitted that (be Minister's interpretation was quite tenable, but it would involve injustices not contemplated. Air ITanan promised to discuss the matter with tho Prime Minister.

MR .MASSEY'S IMPRESSION. (I'M United Press Association.) TIMARt), October 30. 111 the course of his speech at Timnru to-night, Mr Massey made reference to teachers salaries. i-Ie said be war; very much surprised' to learn of tho interpretation which" tlio department, 'had put upon the act.

MINISTER'S STATEMENT t'IUTICISKD. Tho battle raging around the amendment, of tho Education Act seems far from a finish _ (says tho Wellington I'osl). Tho Minister's reply 1-0 l-lic- teachers' contentions dra-wu sonic fire from cue of the principal combatants. In Iho conreo of his criticism the corresnotxk-nl; states:—

According to tlio Minister, the mca-mii" of tho act was duly explained in the evidence given, by the Inspector-genwal of Schools t>efore the Parliamentary Education Committee. More is ecme of Mr Hogjwn's ovideneo relevant to the point at issue: —

Mr Hanan (chairman): Taking, for example, a school of 12 pupil;: the teacher receives £72. with £10 house allowance, making it £82 annum. Mr llogben: Yes.

Mr Hanan.- Under Ihe r.cw schedule tho tcacher will get a stiia.ry of £90, increasing by £5 por annum to £120; and also a house allowance of £10. litis is a distinct advantage? Mr ITcglxii: I. tbi.uk' ro.

Mr Ha-nau: Taking tho example of a school with an average of 41. formerly tho salary was £165, with £20 housa allowance. It, will be iincrcKod to from £180 to £210. What- will bo the average for that grade? Mr I-logben: I thin'.; about £200. Air ITan.n-ti: In the next grade, with schools of 82 pupils, the salary was £215, with house allowance of £30. Now the ralary will be £210 lo £240. with £30 house allowance—say, £15 difference? Mr Iloghcti: Yes. Mr Ha<uan: Iu a.' school of 132, what was the salary? Mr Hogben: £235. Air Ilanan: Amd t'lie house allowance? Mr Hogbon: £50. Mr Ilanan: Uno'er tho new auto teachers will receive from £240 io £270, with a house allowance of £35? Mr Hogben: Yes. And so the evidence goes on through up io sehcols of 601. It will' ) J0 notieod tliat ia every casa the. oliairmnn of the committee savj the now salary will be the minimum, rising io the maximum, and the Inspector-general answers unrcsorvet'i'y "Yes."

A LITTLE SUPPORT FOR TIIE MINISTER. We agree with the Minister lhat. the Inspcctor-general explained the " meaning of tho act." The evidence of the Inspectorgeneral is very lengthy, t,o read it. In only one case (page 15 of the report, of the committee) is tbe.ro any ovideiwe bearing remotely in favour of tie Minister's interprotation of tho act. Here it. is.

Mr Ilanan: In grade. X there is an immediate iuoreasc of £10, in addition to an annual increase of £5, wltilo the teachers in grade IX liavo r.o immediate increase. Air Hogben: All teachers an immediate increase of £5 unless they have already reached the maximum. All are treated alike. There is a provision to the bill to that effect. In ga'ade IXa the salary of (ha head teacher is now £320 or £350, while under this bill il will bo £340 to £370. In grade. IXb the salary of the head teacher is now £330 or £340; it will be £340 to £370. In grade IXc the salary of the head master is £340 10 £350 : if wilJ also lie £340 to £370. In grade Xa the present salary is £360; under the bill the head master will get £370 to £400. In each case tho head master will get ap increment of £5 a. year. Mr Ilanan: Then it, is net thio that in grade X an immediate increase of £10 a year is given? Air Hogbeji : Xo. So long as ihe master remains in the same position there is an annual inorement of £5 to the salary he received at. the commencement of "this act until his salary reaches the maximum for the grade. All receive an increment of £5 ia grades IX and X. There are only a few in grade IV who do not receive am increment, and 'that, is liecause they liavo already reached the maximum.

Wo say this evidence bears remotely in favour of the Minister's assertion, bcrauso Che I.nspector-genora.l ?:>,ys, in reply to a specific question about grades X and IX, that, "all teachers get an immediate increase of £s—all arc treated alike."

Hut it will be noticed that. Air Hanan consistently spcala of an " immediate inc.icase" in addition (o an annual increase of £5.

submit that, tlw M:n,ister is "hoist with his own petard."