TEACHERS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 2

TEACHERS CONFER

EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS THE YEAR'S OFFICERS ELECTED

The annual conference of tho New Zealand Educational Institute was continued in Wellington yesterday. Mr. A. Erskino, Wellington, presided. There were a number of remits on the order papor dealing with staff and salary matters. The conference felt considerable restriction in discussing these subjects in the circumstances of the present time, and resolved to refer the remits to the executive with an instruction to take them before tho Minister when a .suitable opportunity offers. It was resolved: "That section 79, sub-section 7 of the Education Act, 1914, bo amended to read as followslf any school is, at the beginning of any year, placed in Grade 1, or a higher grade, and that school is thereafter changed in grade, no teacher shall, on account of such change, suffer a reduction in salary or allowances from what he would have received if no such change had taken place. Provided that if lie has been offered and lias declined to accept in a public school, secondarv school, technical high school, or in any school under the control of tho Department, any position the salary and allowances attached to which are not loss than the salary that would liavt* been received by him if the first-named school had not been changed in grade, then ho shall continue to receive for two years alter the change, but no longer, the same salary and allowances as if no change had taken place, and thereafter, until new conditions arise, lie shall receive as his' salary and allowances tho maximum salary and allowances of the grade to which he has been reduced!" The following remit was lost by 29 votes to 22 votes:—"That it is highly desirable that 'house allowance' to headteacliors bo discontinued, and that an amount equal to the 'house allowance' prescribed by regulations be added to the salary of all head-teaclicrs, and that where residences are already in existence, the teachers in occupation pay rent.'' Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow: —President, Mr. H. G. Cousifis, M.A. (Auckland); vice-presi-dent, Mr. A. Erskine (Wellington); secretary, Mr. H. A. Parkinson, M.A. (Wellington); treasurer, Mr. E. N. Just (Lyttelton); non-official members of oxecutive, Mr. Jl. L. M'llroy, M.A. (Taranaki), Mr. H. L. Birss (Southland), and Mr. A. N. Burns (Wellington). ' Wanganui moved the following, which was lost: —"That in view of the great and increasing importance of the functions of education boards, tho N.Z.E.I.' should make every effort to bring about an amendment of the law, so as to bring t'he members of education boards into touch with a wider form of popular franchise than is involved in membership of school committees; and that the executive bo urged to tako such 6teps as will impress upon the Legislature the dosirability of securing this reform." . Tho following resolutions were made: "That removal expenses of teachers be paid by the Education Department." "That only regular salary be taken as the basis in calculating either superannuation premiums or superannuation benefits."• 1

"That Seotion 14, Sub-section 2, of tho PuWic Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1908, as amended in 1909, should be so altered as to remove all restrictions with regard to" the receipt of Government pay; provided only that such pay, together with retiring allowance, shall in no case exceed, in any one year, either (a) £300 or (b) the annual salary of the rccmient at the time of hi® retirement, whichever is'tho greater." • "That the executive agaiii place leforo the Minister of Education the claims of' those teachers whoso superannuation allowance 'will be reduced through broken service prior to 1908." ' '"That the deduction of 5 per centum from tho salaries of teachers who have passed certificate examinations, and who hold a license to teach, but who are under ngvi, is inequitable." "That tho Department be asked to publish the regulations relating to the substitution of assistants for pupilteachers, and that in the substitution regard should be paid to the needs of larger schools, instead of their having to wait till all the lower grades have their substitutions."

"That the teachers' representatives on the General Council of Education should be constituted a recess committee to bring before .the district institutes matx ters for discussion relating to education." . *