TEACHERS TALK STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 202, 24 August 1944, Page 4

TEACHERS TALK STRIKE

SECONDARY SCHOOLS DISSATISFACTION REGARDING SALARY PROMISES “PROFESSION SEETHING,” SAYS A MEMBER. (P.A.) Wellington, Aug. 23. When the Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, attended the opening session of the conference of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association, in Wellington to-day. delegates placed before him their views on the inadequacy of the salary increases which had been promised secondary school teachers. The chairman, Mr. W. Caradus (Mount Albert) told the Minister the profession was seething with discontent, such as he could not recall in 30 years' experience of teaching. Education had certainly been passing through a difficult time in the war period, said Mr. Mason, but it would be obvious that it could not stand still. If there were no attempt to struggle forward it would be found there was a slipping back. “The secondary field in education is new,” the Minister continued, “‘but in one respect it is not so old. in that it now caters for more students than it previously did. Therefore, new problems appear in this sphere. "Educational needs must have a true and honest consideration. In Auckland recently we saw the example of criticism of a report which did not exist. An attempt was made to discredit a report which was still in the future. How can one criticise a report that is not known?” "Our considered opinion is that the time has come for this conference to express an opinion on the use of direct action,” said G. Mcß. Salt (Auckland Grammar School), in the course of consideration by conference of a recent action by the executive on the proposed salary schedules for the profession.

The chairman said the present salary schedule, brought down in 192.1, had been amended downward because of the lowered cost of living in 1922. There had been an examination of the schedule in 1939 by a body upon which the teachers had two representatives, and the new schedule was the result of that examination. Since 1922 the cost of living had risen by 20 to 30 per cent. Conditions of secondary school teachers, like those of other workers, had deteriorated. The new schedule had been thrust on them at the end of the past year. Some of the people on higher rates of salaries, and some on lower rates, would receive an increase amounting to about eight per cent., but the large 'body of teachers had not received any worthwhile change. For three months they had been applying to the Stabilisation Commission for a rehearing of their application for salary increases, but no reply had been received. The application had gone forward from the secretary to the Prime Minister for him to receive a deputation. No reply had been received to that.

“The question now is,’’ said Mr. Caradus, “what next?’’ Mr. Salt said there were three courses open. The new schedule could be accepted, but he thought that was definitely not in accord with the temper of teachers. It could be accepted as a temporary measure. He and his colleagues felt that would be useless. Now was the time to act. and it would be foolish to accept the schedule as a temporary measure. "The third course, and the only course left, is some form of direct action, or limited direct action,” declared Mr. Salt. Full direct action meant a strike, but limited direct action would be something like the exclusion of all work outside the classroom, and rigid adherence to timetable.

Miss E. M. North (Wellington) favoured a further and immediate application to the Prime Minister to receive a deputation. Mr. J. Colquhoun (Palmerston North) moved:

“That the executive be instructed that if it was dissatisfied with the position it should bring before the conference a resolution setting down a definite time when secondary school teachers shall vote on whether they would go on strike.” Later, the secretary reported he had telephoned the Prime Minister's secretary and the Prime Minister had fixed Friday, at 11 a.m., for a deputation.

It was agreed to adjourn further discussion till after the deputation had made its report.