THE TEACHERS' SALARIES ACT

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 14

THE TEACHERS' SALARIES ACT

AMENDMENTS ASKED FOR

The following resolutions sn-d representations in reference to the above act have bec-n forwarded to the Premiea 1 by the „ rl.airman and secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools Committees' Conference, which was held in Dunedin on the 26th ult. : —

Dunedin, June 11, 1904. Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., Minister of Education, Wellington. Dear Sir, — We are diiected by the annual meeting of the Dunedin and Siiburban. School Committees' Conference, held on the 26th ult., to bring under your notice the following resolution, which was carried unanimously at that meeting : — " That this conference is unanimously of opinion that fhe present Teachers' Salaries Act will have a. very serious effect oa the; efficiency of the schools in this district, and that the scale should be amended where necessary and be made on a more equitable and liberal basis without delay."

: The letters sent you on the 19th April last : by Mr F. G-. Cray, chairman of Ravensbourne ■ School Committee, show conclusively that '■ great injustice can be, and in, this caso has been, done under the present act, aud that considerable amendment is urgently needed. The Otago Education Board in its annual report, draws pointad attention to the insufficient salaries paid to assistants other -than tha first. We join with the board in pleading for " such a revision of -the salaries scheme as would make the service one into which able young man might enter with the prospect of being able to maintain a wife said family at tho age at which a, teacher as a unit of" the commonwealth might reasonably be expected to bear siieh a responsibility." We feel sure that upon your resumption of administrative duties, which we trust renewed health will permit at an early date, you will take th's important question into -earnest, sympathetic, and favourable consideration. We "aro but expressing the desire of every tine educationalist when we say we hope you will be able to devisea scheme which will have the effect of placing this branch of State service in the position, hi which it should: be— well paid, and such thifc our brightest and best men wilt be drawn into it, and the services retained of those who are. already in it. The importance md seriousness of this question is our excuse for sgain drawing your attention to this matter.— We aro, etc., Jas. Hutchison, President; William Pryob, Hon. Secretary, JDunedin and Suburban Schools Committees' Conference.

The r«nr«sejit?i.ticoig forwarded to the Freniier by the chairman of the Ravensbourne School Committee, to which reference is above made, were that Ihe act y/ould cause a very sevious injustice to be dene to tlxe school. Mr Cray pointed out that the average attendance at the school has for s.onie years been over 201. During the past ypar (1903), however, owing to sickness in the district, tbe average attendance at the cad of 1903 fell bolow 201— viz., 197. As a result the head master and mistress suffered a loss in salary, although only to a small extent. The first assistant; (female) suffered a reduction in salpry of £45 (from (£125 to £80), and the sohoot lo«5a altogether the services of the. fourth assistant (male), at p salary of £80. The average attendance, Mr Cray states, for tha quarter eaiding 31st March, 1904, was 196.