TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION FUND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 11

TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION FUND.

• A DIFFICULT PHOBLEM. ■ A deputation of members, headed by Mr. Malcolm (Clutha), waited upon the Minister for Education (the- lion. G. Fowlds) yesterday to urge the claims of a number of school teachers who, from financial' , reasons. 1 at the had , been unable to join the Teachers' Superan- . nuation Fluid, when it was established or within the time stipulated after the establishment of the. fund. Messrs. Poolo (Auckland), Clark (Chalmers), ' Arnold ;(Dun«Un) spoke in support of the arguments led by Mr. , Malcolm._' ' Tho Minister said the matter was one which required: legislation, and in'order to. "get tins the whole; Government would have to . consent. The , board had originally Been given power to make an extension which allowed of the admission of teachers, within.a Certain time if they thought fit, and a number had been,admitted who had been found'to be'sound in health on payment of-premiums due from the ' inauguration of. tho. schemephis a rate of interest which corresponded with the interest the fund had been 'eam- ■ ing in tho meantime, but this right could' not be allowed to go on indefinitely. The danger involved-was.that those, who.stood out might have recognised sonio incipient disease developing,, and then.-comedn ■ and burdened the fund. The Government was very niuoh opposed to reopening the question of'.these funds at all. As predicted experience, was proving that from time to time there would be a clamour to increase the benefits of the funds.; That pressure, it had been urged, would go on'until the'funds broke, down of their, own weight A great deal of help from the ■ State . would be required to maintain the funds, and the general public, which had no such benefits, would have to make good the deficiency. .Therefore, the Government was opposed, to reopening thefunds. Those for whom the deputation were appealing had had ample time in winch to act, and.they.could' not pretend thatthey'had been harshly dealt with. Reopening the fund would involve complications and danger,. and the teachers', fund could .not' bo reopened without the other funds being. similarly' treated. This would mean increasing the liability, and he was afraid, the. chance of complying with the request was a little bit difficult. .. '