SCHOOL COMMITTEES CONFRERENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2386, 25 November 1881, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES CONFRERENCE.

A meeting of members of school committees was held last evening, in the schoolroom, Gloucester street Eiit, to take into consideration the new scale of salaries issued by the North Canterbury Board of Education. The school committees represented were, Opawa, Merivale, Sydenham, North road, Christchurch East, and Christchurch West. The Rev. H. O, Watson was voted to the chair. Apologies were received for non-attendance on behalf of Rev. T, R. Cairns, Messrs Joyce, Farr, and Martin. The Chairman stated that very general dissatisfaction existed amongst the various school committees in and about Christchurch, and also the teachers, regarding the new scale of salaries, which could not be considered otherwise than unsatisfactory, and this meeting was called to see what alteration was desirable. There had not been sufficient time to call for the attendance of representatives from the country committees, but it was thought that the purpose would be served by the schools in and about Christchurch being represented. The country teachers complained that their incomes suffered considerable reduction. The sum allotted by Government for Canterbury was £85,000, whilst Otago had £90,000. The teaching power in Otago was 280 to 39,000 children, and in Canterbury there are 248 teachers to 16,000 children, whilst the percentage of monies devoted by the Otago and Canterbury Boards for payment of teachers’ salaries was fifty-seven in the former and forty-five in the latter district. The question naturally arose how this diference was caused, which was partly accounted for by the office expenses in North Canterbury being £3OO a-year more than in Otago, and alio that the sum of £6OO a-year was paid to a gentleman to manage the North Canterbury reserves, which duty, in the days of Mr Habena and his predecessors, was performed by the secretary to the Board, Again, whilst £OOO is paid in Otago for architects’ fees, the like services here absorb £1330. The teachers in Otago are paid at a much higher rate than in North Canterbury. [Here Mr Watson quoted comparatively to bear out his statement."] He thought the meeting was sufficiently largo to ventilate the question, after which a public meeting could be called to include the country school committees.

Rev. T. Flavell hoped something would result, as tho teachers were looking forward to this meeting. He knew one case where a headmaster was reduced £4O a-year by this scale, which he called a most iniquitous thing. He hardly know which to blame—the Government or the Board. [A Voice—“ The Board.”] He thought so, seeing how much more is paid the Otago teachers than is paid tho Canterbury teachers. Mr M. Murphy thought the question was this. An infinitely larger amount of work was done in Canterbury at a less salary than in Otago. Mr D. Reese stated that recently a deputation from the West Christchurch school had waited on the Board of Education, and the difference of the scale of salaries in Otago and Canterbury was forcibly put before it, but they (the deputation) considered they were snubbed by the Board, Last year the 10 per cent, reduction was put into force by tho Board, and now they tried a further reduction, which was very inconsistent.

The Rev. H. B. Cocks hardly know what should bo done —whether they should depute the Board or go behind it and petition the House of Representatives. The Board treated the school committees as though they were children. Perhaps if the Board was deputed, and a readjustment of expenditure proposed, it would bo well; and failing that they could go further. The Rev. T. Flavcll moved—“ That this meeting strongly deprecates the reduction of teachers' salaries made by the Board of Education, and earnestly hopes that the Board will readjust same upon the basis of the Otago scale of salaries."

Mr H. Thomson seconded, and in the course of his remarks stated that the head master of the East Christchurch School had been reduced £SO a year. Perhaps if a subcommittee was formed, including one member from each school committee, it would be as well.

Mr K. J. T. Ford stated that in Queensland, in a country school averaging 140 children in attendance, the master was paid 20 per cent, more than here, whilst the cost of living was 25 per cent. less. Mr A, R. Kirk thought at least six months'

notice of the redaction should have been given, and, if the Board would not give them redress, then let them go to the Government. The Chairman thought the same uniform salaries should be paid all over Hew Zealand, and not have nine systems, as at present. After a few pertinent remarks from Mr J. B. Andrew, the motion wao put and carried unanimously. Mr James Ooohrane thought that more notice should have been given to obtain the co-operation of the suburban school committees. Mr H. Thomson moved, Mr D. Beese seconded, and it was unanimously agreed—- “ That the resolution be forwarded to the Board of Education, and that so soon as an answer was received the committee be called together again." Mr H. Thomson thonght a sub-committee, consisting of the chairman of each school committee and one other committee man, should be formed to go into this matter. He would, therefore move—“ That each school committee in and around Christchurch be invited to nominate two cf its members to form a. joint committee to consider the regulations recently issued by the North Canterbury Board of Education and other educational matters, and to take such further action as they may deem necessary." Mr E. J. T. Ford seconded the motion, which was also carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.