TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 129, 11 June 1901, Page 3

TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

(Py Telegraph—Press Association.) Wanganui, last night. The Teachers’ Salaries Commission commenced its sittings here to-day. The witnesses examined were Mr G. S. Bridge, Chairman of tho Wanganui Education Board, and Dr. Smythe, Chief Inspector. Mr Bridge was opposed altogether to the proposed colonial scale. In his opinion it was merely getting the thin end of the wedge in to centralise control of schools, which was most undesirable. School Boards were in a better position to judge as to the staffing and salaries of schools in their districts. He advocated a sliding scale of from £5 to £3 10s capitation per head, which would be much preferable to the fixed amount suggested. By the proposed scale several teachers in Wanganui Education district would have their salaries reduced. He held that a male teacher should receive a higher salary than a female for the reason that it was

necessary to induce youths to enter the service. Mr Bridge thought that more funds should be given for build-

ing teachers’ residence. Dr Smythe urged that a sum of money should be set apart for training primary and even secondary school-teachers. He was in favor of establishing one or more training colleges, where pupil-teachers might be sent. Inspectors should have the power of recommending to the Department that the status of a teacher should be lowered as well as raised, and he thought it would be a very good thing if the Boards had power to transfer teachers. Ho was in favor of a Colonial scale of salaries, but he had not considered the question of a graduated scale of capitation, and did not know if it would solve the difficulty. While the Commission ' was sitting, it

was announced that Mrs Bridge, wife of the first witness, had died, and the Commission thereupon adjourned, as a mark of sympathy. . The annual conference of the Teachers’ Institute was to have opened here this evening, but was adjourned, on account of the death of Mrs Bridge, wife of the Chairman of the Education Board.

A .vitness called in the Wellington Divorce Court was asked whether he had ever seen the respondent and co-respon-dent act in an affectionate manner towards each other. “ No,” he replied, “ but I have seen him with his arm round her neck.” One of the lawyers engaged in the case suggested that in the rural districts where the parties lived such an embrace might not ho considered affectionate.