TEACHERS AND THE TARIFF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 3

TEACHERS AND THE TARIFF.

(From (Job Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. October 23. During the discussion on the Education Amendment Bill to-night Sir Joseph Ward said that all that the Government was providing in the way of increases to the p tt? mary school teachers’ salaries was a total of £12,000 a year; .yet, according to reports that- had been circulated, they contemplated alterations in the tariff * which would result in an increase of salary to the extent of £250,000 a year. There waa the reported increase in the beer duty. Voices: More beer 1 Glorious beer I - The Minister of Education (the Hon. J. Allen) asked whether the Loader of th» Opposition was in order in referring to imaginary financial proposals of the Government. i The Speaker said that the right hongentleman must not go into details on thk point. Sir Joseph Ward: I will noi go into details, Mr Speaker, but I wish to point out that the hon. gentleman has not yol submitted the whole of the Government’s financial proposals. The teachers arc to get am increase of £12,000 a year, and yet, os far as wo know, wo may have before the session is over, alterations in the tariff which may yield more revenue to the extent of £250,000. The Hon. J. Allen: The moon may fall I Cats may fly 1 Sir Joseph Ward; Those are most extraordinary expressions to come from the M;nister of Education. Talk about cats flying! —(Laughter.) The Minister of Education! —(More laughter.) Dors ho not know tha> oats can’t fly?—(Still more laughter.) If he does not know, he 'is not fit to be the Minister of Education. He is flying kits, I am afraid.

Subsequently Sir Joseph Ward again referred to the tariff, and asked why the Government did Hot sav what it was going to do in thig matter. f The Minister of Customs (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher); Stick to vour imagination. Keep on guessing and guessin".