TEACHERS’ SALARIES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 5 October 1929, Page 7

TEACHERS’ SALARIES

THE EDUCATION VOTE OPINIONS IN IKE HOUSE The Education vote of £3,170,668 was passed hy the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon- Mr J. A. Nash’s amendment calling for a reduction of £lO on the * * grounds that there had been no increase in head teachers’ salaries, was put, hut the mover did not call for a division. WELLINGTON Oct, 4. Consideration of the estimate of £3.170,668 for the .Department of Education was continued in Committee of Supply when the House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 ' h±s afternoon.

The Hon. H. Arm ore, replying to Messrs F. White and W. J. Jordan, stated that the Government recognised the educational .value of Shakespearean plays and had granted a subsidy of £BSO to the Alan vVUkie Company. It was regrettable that better-class entertainments of this type could not carry on without being subsidised, while performances of a lower standard were run at a profit. He mentioned that school children were admitted, to the plays at special prices. Mr P. Fraser applauded this grant and said he would welcome a further grant to Alan Wilkie or any other company serving the same valuable purpose. Ho pointed out that the subsidyhad enabled the company to travel to country towns, which it would not have been able to visit otherwise. It was important that children in the country : should participate in cultural as well as in every other possible form of education. _ ! WW.W.V.iVtWAV-l

Exchange of Teachers

Mr A. Hamilton asked whether anything further was being done in relation to the exchange of teachers with the Old Country. Ho said ho know that some teachers were very keen to visit Britain on transfer Other members referred to the question of primary school headmasters’ salaries, whereupon Mr Atmore repeated that both he and the Minister were favourable towards an increase and that the whole difficulty was a matter of finance. Mr J. A Nash: “Will you leave no stone unturned ’’ Mr Atmore said he would certainly do his best in the matter. Referring to further questions the Minister stated that the system of phsyical training of school teachers was being continued. The supply of free books to schoolchildren had been suggested bv the Loaded (if the Labour Party and the matter' would be placed before Cabinet. Mr A Harris expressed alarm at the number of children transferred from the care of narents to the care of the State. Mr Fraser declared that child welfare work was extremely important and very good results had been achieved by the removal of children from the i care of parents who had shew/- no sense of responsibility towards them. The Hon. R. A. Wright also commended the Department’s activities in this 'direction.

Minister’s Reply

Replying to Mr Hamilton, the Hon. H. Atmorc stated that Groat Britain exchanged only six teachers with New Zealand in any one year. If the teachers Mr Hamilton had mentioned sent in their names they would be placed on the list of applicants for exchange. The Department had to await applicants from Canada for teachers .for that Dominion.

Mr Nash’s amendment calling for a reduction of £lO on the ground that, there had been no increase in head teachers’ salaries, was put but the mover did not call lor a division. The- vote was then passed. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research estimate, £(13,760 was passed. Members emphasised the importance of the Department’s work and Mr H. Holland (Duller) said he trusted that in view of the brevity of the time available to consider the estimate this afternoon the House would be given a later opportunity to discuss the subject. . The Minister stated that it would be possible to do so when the Department’s report was presented. The House rose at 5.30 pan. till T.aO p.m. on Monday.