LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1944, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TEACHERS' SALARIES

Sir, —The Prime Minister has taken strong exception to the attitude of some of the secondary school teachers who in Wellington last week were endeavouring to exercise the democratic right of free speech—one of the particular rights for. which so many teachers in the last war and this have fought and died. Does the Prime Minister take exception to the attitude of the waterside worker (present aristocrat of New Zealand) when he strikes? Yet he, as an unskilled labourer, is earning much more than a trained qualified teacher who is entrusted with the training of our future citizens. Why have young male teachers for years past sought work as "seagulls" on .the waterfront, in freezing works, and on the land? Many young school teachers cannot afford to marry without financial assistance from parents or elsewhere. Does the Government not want New Zealand f ami-, lies and children? As a free man, as a primary school teacher, and a civil servant, I take strong exception to (1) the salaries of young male teachers, (2) the existing housing conditions, and (3). the prohibitive cost of living. The Government cannot hide behind the skirt of stabilisation^r-I am, etc., STILL SINGLE AND THIRTY. WELCOME FOR TROOPS Sir,—l should like to see the opportunity afforded the whole of the public of welcoming all drafts of our men returning from overseas in an allembracing manner, not so much the individual welcome as at present by those \Yho are advised the draft is due or who find out the news. The way things are now and likely tb improve, there could be no harm done were an announcement msSde over the air' that a ship with a draft of returned men had arrived in port and likely to disembark at a certain hour (port to be named). All would then have the opportunity of going to the wharf. Arrangements "there would" have to be altered to enable the people to get as near the ship as possible. At present it is most depressing after the pent-up excitement of a long voyage to find on arrival that all one can see at the wharf is the roofs of sheds and a few officials. The official welcome broadcast on the ship does not meet the need. What is needed is for the men to be able to see a crowd of people: each man then thinks even if no relatives or friends are there that he is at any rate being welcomed home by the people. I will forever remember the welcome arranged for. us at Wellington on returning from the last war when there actually was a large choir of girls on the wharf singing as the ship tied up, as well as band music.—l am, etc., EX-MIDDLE EAST. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Rifleman."—Principle wholly praiseworthy, but answer would probably be made that many others also • fail to work to it. "Cut 'Em Adrift."—Too strongly worded. "All. That's Wanted."—Regret, general eulogies of members' speeches cannot be published, but prominence given report should have result you wislx.