SALARIES TOO LOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11092, 1 June 1914, Page 2

SALARIES TOO LOW.

TEACHERS COMPLAIN. CONFERENCE WITH M.P.'S. In the Normal School on Saturday morning several members of ilic Canterbury Educational Institute met Messrs T. H. Davey, G. Witty, G. W. Russell, J. M'Couibs and H. G. Ell, Canterbury members of Parliament, to discuss educational matters.. The president of the Institute, Mr D. Waller, was in the chair, and there was a largo attendance of teachers.

Apologies were read from the Hon R. H. Rhodes and Messrs Nosworthy and L. M. lsitt, members of Parliament. The chairman stated that there was to bo a now Educational Bill introduced into Parliament next session, and the teachers were looking forward to it with pleasure. The teachers believed that the members present had the interest of education at heart, and the speaker also thought that the members were in sympathy with the teachers. That was evidenced by the fact that five members were present. Mr F. T. Evans said that he wished to brine before the members some questions that had been, agitating the minds of the teachers for some time. Ho stated that they wished the profession to be placed on an equal footing with the other branches of the public: service. At present it was ono of tho most poorly paid. He referred to the many disadvantages of the profession as regards salary and promotion. The facilities offered were not sufficient, and yo"ng men and women could enter tho other Government Departments much more easily and under much better conditions. The sick pay was another burning question amongst the teachers, who were treated considerablv worse in this respect ban the employees of other Departments. He attributed the attitude of the Government towards the tftacbers to its possession of a monopoly of education, there being no competition. . j Mr E. U. Just said that the teaching profession- was quite different from any other profersicig. The question of pay- I ment to teachers had never been settled j in a satisfactory manner, and as compared with other departments of the j public service the profession was tha . lowest paid. Ho had tabulated the salaries of the various Government departments, and had compared them with the salaries of teachers. In tho first division of the railway service thpro wers 1874 oersons employed. Of these 781 received £2OO or over. 87 received £3OO or over, 30 received £-100 or over, and 13 received £SOO or over. In the Post and Telegraph Department there were 380,1 in the first division Of tbesg 923 received £I2OO or over, 108 received £3OO or over, 46 received'£4oo or over, and 24 received £SOO or over. In tho teaching profession there *yere 4408 employed; of those (317 received' £2OO or "over (a much smaller percentage in comparison with the other departments), 110 received £3OO or over, and only wven received £4OO or over. The average salaries of teachers were also tho lowest. Telegraphists received an average wago of £lB3 12s. engine drivers £l7l 12s, carpenters £l4B 4s, and teachers £134 8s Bd.

■Mr J. Caugbley said that the improvements asked for by tho teachers' would. bo a benefit to the country. He believed tho time had come when there should be*, an Educational Council'on which there should be representatives of the Ho would like to.sen the promotion of inspectors included in tbw scale list. That branch of the service was but u continuation of the teaching profession, but in some cases it moaut a reduction in. salary tor a senior twcliei' tQ become an inspector. There were inspectors of sheep in New Zealand who were better paid than- inspectors of schools.

In reply, Mr G. W. Kussoll said bo was thoroughly in sympathy with thu demands, and he said that no mcnjbQr, on hearing tho real condition of things, would object to the reforms asked for. Ho would do all lio could in the House to bring about a betterment of con* djtions in tho teaching profession. Tho other members also expressed their opinions, and declared their sympathy with the movement. They assured tho toachers that they would do all they could in the House for them when the Bill came up next session.

Mr W. Bean, on behalf of the men teachers, Miss Chaplain, on behalf of tho lady teachers, and the chairman, thanked tho mombora for being present.