NORTH CANTERBURY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1973, 21 June 1880, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

A mooting of teachers in the educational district of North Canterbury was held at the Normal School on Saturday afternoon, to consider the proposed Teachers' Pensions Act. Mr W. Malcolm, the convener, presided, and there wore about thirty present. The Chairman explained that he had taken the initiative iu calling the meeting, because no one elso had »hown a disposition to do so, and Mr Knight, the actuary, who framed tho Bill now before Parliament, had suggested that teachers should give an expression of opinion upon it. He, therefore, invited any who had proposals to make to do so in a proper spirit and render their speeches both pithy and practical. Ha read a letter from Mr W. H. Wake, Ashton, who took exception to the clause by whbh no teacher could retire on a pension until_ sixtyfivo years of ago, and urged as a substitution that a teacher should be allowed to retire after forty-five years' service in New Zealand. Mr Cummings, as a preliminary to test the feeling of those present, moved—" That a teachers' pension fund is desirable." The pay of a toacher was not particularly good, and the labor was not over easy, while, as a rule, teachers broko up sooner than most men, so it was desirable that they should be placed in such a position that their minds need not be troubled with the thought of having to beg from a Board out of charity to give them assistance. It was but reasonable that after a certain period of service they should bo allowed to retire on a proportion of their salary. Mr Camfield seconded the motion, Mr Baldwin stated that twenty-five

years ago he entered the profession in the Old Country, and was then under the impression that he would receive a pension after twenty years' service, but Robert Lowe knocked that on the head, and a similar disappointment would happen to them here, when the pension fund would be diverted to the general revenue. He objected to the principle of pensions, as they pauperised, and for his part he would sooner forego any pension and receive the 6 per cent Government intended to deduct irom salaries. He proposed as an amendment—" That pensions aro not required." This having been seconded, tho motion was put and carried by the casting vote of tho chairman. Mr Baldwin then proposed—" That tho Government be asked to postpono the Pension Bill until a more convenient time." Mr Ournow proposed " That the Teaohera' Pension Act offers several advantages over Government or ordinary life insurance or annuities." Mr Scott proposed—- " That in tho opinion of this meeting the Teachers'Pension Eund is not so advantageous to the service as an ordinary insurance scheme." Mr Cummings moved—" That it is incompetent for this meeting to proceed further with the matter." After a long discussion Mr Scott's motion was curried and the meeting adjourned for a fortnight.