THE TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 13 May 1901, Page 3

THE TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION.

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 12. The Teachers' Salaries Commission continued its sittings this morning. The evidence adduced showed that the incidental allowance to committees was greater in Canterbury than in any other district in the colony. In reply to a remark made, Mr Hogben stated that he was unaware of any intention to abolish Education Boards, and rumours to that effect were without foundation. Teachers' evidence was in favour of a colonial scale, with a fixed minimum wage.

At the afternoon meeting of the Teachers' Salaries Commission, Mr R. B. Ryder, representing a number of mediumsized schools, was examined. He was not in favour of th 9 proposed colonial scale of salaries. The minimum salary of teachers compared unfavourably with the minimum wages of artisans as fixed by the Arbitration Court. He complained of the system of staffing as there were too many pupils to each teacher, and there was no uniformity as between the provinces. He considered that special provision should be made for country teachers as they were deprived of many of the .advantages enjoyed by the town teachers. He si-g----gested that in country schools there should be fewer children to each teacher, and that there should be fewer pupil teachers to adults. If these were reduced a higher state of efficiency would be maintained. Im reply to a Commissioner, witness thought that the minimum salary for both male and female teachers should be £IOO, and that salaries should be governed by the roll number rather than by the average attendanpe.

Mr L. Watson was in favour of a colonial system of promotions. He thought that women should be paid the same salaries as men for the same work.

Mr Justice Cooper was introduced to the Commission by the chairman, and itated his opinion on various points. His Honour said that his experience in the Auckland district showed that a colonial scale should be adopted. No two scales in the colony agreed, and the present system had been the means of sending to other professions many persons who would have made excellent teachers. The staffings should also be taken out of the jurisdiction of the Boards. It had been found in Auckland that starvation salaries, such as £75.0r £7B a year, resulted in experienced teachers refusing to go to country places! so that a new scale would have, a

good effect in that direction. When a woman teacher taught the same number of children she should receive the same salary as a man. Unfortunately it seemed that the colony's finances would not stand : that at present. His Honour thought that inspectors should be removed from the control of Boards. The Commission then adjourned till monday. During the course of the sitting members complained of the small notice taken of the work of the Commission, by the press, particularly of its sittings on the West Coast.