OTAGO TEACHERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10615, 14 June 1920, Page 3

OTAGO TEACHERS.

THINLY-VEILED THREAT.

REPLIED TO BY MINISTER,

Reference was made by the Minister for Education {.the Hon. (J. J.. Parr;) on Saturday, to the todowing resolution recently passed by the Uuiao educational Institute“ That this mass meeting of teachers in, Otago, having regard tp the long-promised increase of salary of teachers, and recognising the lack of finality, to and vagueness of the Government's • promises, expresses its strongest indignation at tho scant consideration, given, and demands an immediate increase of 62J- per cent, oa salaries as at January, ittlo, lading which it pledges itself to support' its institute in any measures the institute may think necessary.” “The position is quite clear/’ said the Minister. “A little over a fortnight ago the New Zealand Educational Institute,* which represents all teachers, placed before me for the first time specific claims with regard to increased salaries. I then told, the institute that I would ' place tlieir representations before Cabinet as forcibly as I could. I have carried out this promise. Such, however, are the monstrous differences between efficiency -and pay in many cases in the teaching profession, that it took -Mr Caughley and myself nearly a fortnight considering a fair scheme by which the meritorious should get higher reward than the indifferent. The matter is now before Cabinet. The Finance Minister informed me last week that the' teachers’ salaries would be considered! with, other branches of the Public Service. When Parliament.sliort. Jy meets, no doubt an announcement will be made of the. Government’s views, if not before. I really do not know what more could have been done for the. teachers in the short time that I have held office. In view of the=a facts, bellicose and unreasonable resolutions from orie or two. districts do not help matters. Indeed, foolish tactics anay often spoil a good cause. The' rather thinly-veiled threat of the Otago teachers to go to any length—even direct, articn I. presume—does not help mo in the slightest in my sincere endeavours to better the conditions of the profession.”