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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 16, 18 January 1879, Page 4

Tho following letter, hooded " New Zaalan.3 and Teachers, and eigoed " One of tha Victims," appeared in the colaoinß of tba Australasian . — Seeing by a New Zealand paper that a great mauy Victorian teachers are applicaots for situations in New Zealand, I desire through your columns to inform them that Ihey are batter off where they are, for tho following reasons : — I, Situations in New Zaalaud are not secure. As an instance, the V/cßtlnnd Board lately discharged several teachers, whom they had induced to leave tbo Victorian department by offering a higher salary, for the saka of reduction. In three iostauces tho tecchers had not held their posts for (hreo months. 2. After JanaBry, 1879, Victorian certificates only entitle the holder to be put io Class £, or loweßt clbbs here, whereas to get iDto Class A requires (be passing as an i M.A. In fact, the examinations are ridiculous, us may be seen by my statemeat that a teacher in the Victorian department holdings CC is only placed in tho fifth cIdSH, or E here. 3. The cost of living in New Zoaland ig to tbe coat of living in Victoria as eeven to five (in some places belter, in some worse, but I tako on average). 4. The climate is very bsd in Otago, Southland, end Westland ; it is best in Auckland, Taranaki, Huwke'a Bay, Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough, Tbe old saying about ' things at a distance ' ia very applicable to Victorian teachers aad 'New Zsalaud ; for I feel sure (hat any teacher coming from Victoria, unless b. 9 gets one of the largest schools, will regret having left a permanent situation to come here. In conclusion lei mo inform teachers that, as a general thing, teachers receivo a salary here which, considering the cost of living, is worse for them than that they receivo iv Victoria. I left a Victoriau scticol worth £165 per annum to take charge of ona worth £300. The day I errive-j, however, the Board reduced my salary by nearly £100 a year. Of course, most; New Zealand Boards are too honeit to do Chip, but there are some that a»e not. For my own part, I would eooner be in Victoria at a salary of £165 per annum tl an io any part of New Zaaland at £300 " — Bgassaagggß^gaj— i— "r n'-^jl j_.