TEACHERS' SALARIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13150, 9 August 1913, Page 2

TEACHERS' SALARIES.

'DEPUTATION TO SIR J. CARROLL. A deputation from the local branch of the Teachers' Institute, consisting of Messrs F. J. Rowley (president), R. Cole, F. Faram, J. G. Woodward, J. McLeod. • J. Wauchop, and S. Pole, waited ofi" ; SSr James Carroll to-day m reference £o fhequestion of teachers' salaries. y „ Mr Rowley said. ,they h&d sepn^ J^e? Government's proposals m the papers',* which, of course, might not be exactly ; correct, but it was all they had to" go ; on. The proposals, as gathered from tfoe rejports, were totally inadequate, and they were unjust. To illustrate how inadequate they T^ere, the only -two schools' that had been tested were the> Gisborne school and Mangapapa school. The Oisborne was; an average school, .and the total salaries paid there was £249/} r while the total increase proposed .was' £20, or approximately. 0.08 per cent. In the. Mangapapa school,, which, -being 1 -.a_ rising suburb, was better situated' io ' obtain^ advantage by the proposals, the total increase would be £10 on total salaries amounting to £960, or one per/ cent. It was unfair, because all the increases were going to teachers newly appointed to a position. A very large number of the teachers had received their maximum salary after three years. Those who had been teaching two y'e&rs were receiving now a salary within £fl£ of the maximum, and they could -i&t avail themselves of the £l 0 increase,' sc* that all the increases were going tp ; t<jachers newly appointed to their positions, ■ and ail the _ teachers who had'be&n'jajyr . . length of time m their positions \vr&t& receiving no increase at all. The\ teachers had their ordinary monthly ni&ciing this morning, when the followjij£ resolution was passed: "That this uie'£t-V- ' ing strongly condemns the very inade~ qtiate and unjust proposals c6ntained.ini the Budget m connection with : teachpf bT salaried, and suggests that the faire^ and most . equitable basis for tempoiftsy relief would be an increase of at Idagfc 15 per cent, .to all salaries:" '.'-V

The other members of the deputation endorsed Mr Rowley's Remarks.' ; Sir James Carroll expressed his J&irfr pathy with' the teachers. He ,said ■ tflejjjr had' many -friends on both sides of rjbtig House, ' as education was ~ ; recbgnised.^^ both the Government and"'the T: oppp(tei tion. Perspnally 'he was' f : prikble : id ~ ai^ tend to their interests.a s ' '^ellingttjii just now, but he would forward- "^pp resolution to his colleagues, Mees/s Ma&Donald and Ngata, who were .looking after his interests, and <they could rest assured that their representations would be m safe hands. As the teachers had friends on both sides of the House they should receive justice quickly, unless it. was made a party question. He did not suppose anything would-take place until the debate on the Financial Statement was over. If they watched the debate they would see that education < would have a prominent pant, and the Government would be forced into sqme admi*-, sion or commitment more than they had at present indicated. ' ..'^

A general discussion then ensued ,ob the subject. ; '' r , '!.,."> Mr McLeod said it was felt that as' abpdy they had been very diffident jn bringing forward their grievances! A question of trying to form a unioni, of teachers .under the Arbitration Act lira been talked about, and favorably viewed. Sir James Carroll: Why not? .Unionism is accepted now ' in 1 all trades and professions. You are then recognised politically as a force. You have got to do what the others are doing. r ~ Mr Cole said at the present time the institute was recognised .not as a force, but as an advisory body. , Sir James Carroll: Well, they like to hold you- up as a class above the ordinary unions. Proceeding, he stated that .tne teachers must have some constitution expressive of force ; . otherwise they would always be overlooked. "•' " • . Mr Rtfwley: That's right. After farther discussion>. Mr Rowfey said they had.tb thank Sir James for listening to them so kindly, ahd for the sympathetic interest he had shown He was quite sure that if the same 'interest was displayed by the Government they would be all right. They knew their proposals and wishes were m the best hands with Sir James, and they oialy regretted that his health would not permit him to take his plape m the Bouaa where he could fore© the teacliera* tiosition better. No 'doubt he woald setect the best men to take the matteflm; Ihey knew he would do all -he powibly could to help them. J t •Mr McLeod said if the Keform party rt ° i/?-i* 8 much for the £ the old -Liberal party did during the % years they, were m office, then meeting* th Yt Id "^'^l™™*^

v ? i 4? 63 Carroil , m reply, aaid he believed; he would be well enough to, be m Wellington before the session closed. Me tnougM Tie would hit it about' f&e <tinie they .were going through the Estimates, and that was the most important time for the deputation's. purpose. r JI they, could not £et any provision, m ifie •direction that was required this sessidh they could force the Government to xsbitflmit themselves m some way. 'They could not allow this question^ to resti>n such a mean subterfuge as was now pot .forward. It must btj- dealt with '.&&■■ perly and rightly on its ! true' principle and up to its fullest extent'; otherwise it, was no good. He was . certain, v^th the friends they had on both sides of the House, -that the interests of the teachers would be met squarely jand satisfactoray. He felt that would^bS .*o. Although the laberaf party m .the past initiated a rule it had to be ke|ft going until it readhed its proper climax. He did not care what -Government was m power; if- they .would notL-«fo- it, they must be forced to do it. ,-- -He woTtfd advise them to form a union. There could not be any possible objection to They Had how to meet together and express their views and grievances, and they did it under a recognised title when they formed a union. ,' . "tr '