TEACHERS REQUIREMENTS

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11754, 18 August 1913, Page 5

TEACHERS REQUIREMENTS

REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING

SOME FORCIBLE SPEECHES

What was probably the largest gathering of country teachers that has taken place in Masterton was held in the Technical School, on Saturday afternoon, to hear a statement of Hie disabilities under which tho -service at present labours. Air G. R. Sykes, M.P., was present. The attendance was over eighty. An apology for absence, on account of illness, was received"' from Sir Walter Buchanan. A motion expressing sincere sympathy with Sir Walter, anel a hope for his speedy recovery, was proposed by Air W. H. Jackson, and carried unanimously. The President (Mr T. L. Combs), in opening the meeting, spoke"of the growing resolve of teachers throughout the Dominiou to secure reforms at a definite and not distant date

Air Jackson dealt with tho total inadequacy of the salaries at present paid to teachers. The President referred to the widespread opposition to the average attendance basis of payment, which penalised teachers for reasons over which they had not the slightest control. Mr A. N. Bums clearly and forcibly gave the reasons for which a Dominion scheme of promotion is demandoel by teachers. He outlined the present haphazard and undesirable methods of securing promotion. Air G. A. Jones supported Air Burns, and stated that a teacher's promotion should be a matter of efficient work on his own part, and come to him entirely unsought, at the instance of the Board's expert advisers. The powers of committees in the matter of appointment were characterised as an anomaly, as committees did not possess the expert knowledge, nor could they secure the expert advice alone relevant in such a matter.

Air R.J. Foss explained the demand that superannuation should be paid on the '-three best," not the "three last" years of appointment. He quoted Air Morris Pox, the Government actuary, as unreservedly enelorsing the proposal.

Air Leslie, the institute secretary, in a vigorous speech, pointed out to Air Svkos some of the actual disabilities under which the working teacher labours.- He protested against any elolay iv remedying tho undisputed grievances of the profession. Air Svkes, in reply, expressed entire sympathy with the teachers, aud promised" to use his utmost personal efforts to improve their conditions. He commented on the need of teachers giving wider and more persistent publicity to their demands than in the past. Only the previous night, Air Sykes stated, the Alinister had assured Sir Walter Buchanan and himself that without fail amending legislation would be introduced early next session, but that he (the Minister) could not do any more than he had already promised in the elirection of increased salaries this ses-

sion

This reply brought several other teachers to thoir feet in protest, the feeling being that while the Alinister might reasonably ask that some of the reforms advocated by tho institute be held over till next session, the teachers felt that it was quite unreasonable for him to expect them to wait another 18 months (for that is what the Minister's reply really meant) for the increase in salary to which they wero now so justly entitled. If the Minister's legislation regarding salaries could be made retrospective, then they might feel inclined to wait patiently; but he had not promised that. At the request of Air Sykes, the meeting then drafted the following minimum demands, which it insisted should be dealt with before the close of the present session, and come into force from .Tanuarv next: —

"Better security against falling salaries . ''

"A better basis of payment in lieu of payment by attendance. " "An adequately increased rate of payment. " "That superannuation be granted on the best three years." The meeting was of a lively character, and the applause hearty throughout. A general feeling was clearly indicated that the profession had waited quite long enough for reforms, and that the time hail gone by when it or the State could afford to procrastinato further. A vote of hearty thanks to Air Sykes for the prompt and cordial maimer in which he had met the teachers, was carried by acclamation. The meeting was preceded by a lecture on Pond Life by Air Cummings, the agricultural instructor, which was much appreciated for the fund of firsthand and special knowledge it displayed.