The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1904. SUPERANNUATION FOR TEACHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 168, 20 July 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1904. SUPERANNUATION FOR TEACHERS.

The burning question at present agitating our educational world is undoubtedly how best to establish a fund to provide for the retirement of agtid and infirm teachers, thus guaranteeing to the State that lier schools shall be in charge of men and women physically fit to overtake satisfactorily the arduous work they are called upon to perform. It is, moreover, believed by those best qualified to express an opinion on the subject that the introduction of a scheme acceptable to teachers will go very far to remove thol discontent now existing among members of the profession, and that it will induce good men to. remain in and suitable boys to entor the servico The Dunedin Evening Star, an undoubted authority on educational matte's, In an article on this subject, points out that during tl>e past few years-quite a number of the most promising young men in the teaching service—nun holding university degreeshave abandoned the profession for other walks in life. In fact, the dearth of suitable male teachers is Uecoming such a serioua matter that tho efficiency of our primary school system is threatened. Parliament, the poople, and the newspaper press of the colony, with no uncertain voice, have expressed approval of the principle of superannuation for teachers. It remains, therefore, for the Government to devise a scheme of which teachers may reasonably be expected to avail themselves. The Stan is of opinion that the best plan for the establishment of a superannuation fund is that adopted by the countries of Europe admittedly in the van of educational progress. In these countries contributions to the superannuation funds are, almost without exception, basupon a payment of 5 per cent,, of a teacher's salary but tho State almost invariably provides the whole or part of the contribution. Now, it Is generally admitted that the teachers in our primary schools are underpaid, and tho Star believes tllat if Mr Seddon proposed the introduction of Scale No. 2, by him during the passage through tho House .of tho Teachers' Salaries Kill, 1901, his action would meei with the approval of the majority of the members. Hut suppose that, in-

stead of introducing Scale No. 2. the Minister of Education suggested an all-round increase of 2J percent, on the salaries at present paid to adult teachers. Suppose, further, that Parliament agreed that this increase should he retained in the hands of the State as a subsidy towards a teachers' superannuation fund. The result wouhl be the establishment of a fund financially sound from its inception, and the Jorniulation of a scheme of which, as in the case of tihe railway servants, practically every teacher in the service would take advantage. The rates of contribution paid directly by teachers would be ad follows

Under thirty years of age, 2$ per cent, of salary. Over thirty, but not over thirty-live, Hi per cent. Over thirty-iive, but not over forty, I jier cent. Over forty, but not over for-ty-five, m per cent. Over forty-five, but not over fifty, 6i per cent.

Over fifty, 7J per cent, lhe 2} per cent, of the sum total of teachers' salaries retained by the State would bring the total contributions up to tlie rates specified in the original bill. If Mr Soddon, who is in full sympathy with the teachers of the colony, will but take advantage of the great opportunity now offering, and devise a satisfactory superannuation scheme for teachers, he will have done more to placo our education system on a satisfactory footing than have any of liis predecessors, and will leave behind him a record as Minister of .Education of which he will have good reason to be proud, "Incase our suggestions," continues the Star, "should be considered outside the bounds of practical politics, we shall discuss briefly the proposals made by tlir New Zealand Educational Institute, and shall endeavour

to show how the bill of 1.901 by slight moditicsi'tions, can be placed on a sound financial basis. Always assuming that tile present low rates of salary will be increased, teachers have, through their representutiives, expressed Iheir willingness' to contribute to a superannuation fund at the following rate?;

Under thirty years of age, "> per cent, of salary. Over thirty, but not over Uliiv ty-five, (> per cent. Over thirty-live, but not over forty, (iI per cent. Over forty, but not over for-ty-live, 8 per cent. Over forty-live, but not over lifty, 'J per cent. Over fifty, 10 per cent. It should lie observed that Hie minimum coiitrilmtion is two-thirds as much again as that paid by railway f-ervants. 'l he optional age for retirement for women is lifty years, while for mule teachers it is- sixty. The age for optioual retirement under the railway BClieme is sixty. The annuities asked for by male teachers are lower I han those paid under the railway servants' scheme. The proposed allowances to teachers' widows are considerably higher. The Government Acting-Actuary lias re-, ported unfavourably on the original Teachers' Superannuation Bill. In

order to strengthen the fund we would suggest tho following modifications " 1. All contributors should pay into the. fund untU [time of retirement. 2. Servico should count from 1877 only. I-!. The ago of optional retirement for women should be raised liviu fifty to fifty-live, provision, of course, being made for retirement at an earlier age if a member should he medically unfit. I. (Jowrmuent should be ask<d in fvt aside tt capitation grant of Is on the total averug«' attendance at the s.'hools of th.'colony as an annual grant to the fumd. Assuming the average age at which men join the fund to be twenty-three and the average age of retirement to be sixty-three, our first suggestion would have the effect of increasing the |>eriod during which contributions would be paid by five years, or over H per cent. The total amount of c,ontribntions would be correspondingly increased. If our siuowl suggestion were given e!V-ct to, the reduction in the annuities payable to men going on the fund at once would range from tt to 25 per cent, liaising the relirmg age for women from fifty to fifty-five would increase tihe period of contribution by about 10 per cent., and at the aame time reduce tho annuity period by about 25 per cent. We think the maximum annuity for women should, however, Ixj increased to thirty-six sixtieths. The setting u<;ide of a capitation gnant of Is. which is only part of the sum to which teachers have a moral right, would yield about £6OOO yearly, which, at per cent, per annum, is equivalent to a capital of £170,000. If the modifications we have suggested above were given effect to, we are ifonvinced that there could be formulated a scheme tihat would be established upon a sound linanciol basis, and one that would provide tho reasonable benefits for whiuh teachers are asking. The success or failure of this movement to secure a superannuation scheme for teachers lies entirely in the hands of Mr Seddon. As stated before, he has Parliament, the people and the press with him. Wo trust, therefore, that tho present session will not be allowed to pass without there being placed on tho Statute Book a bill the provisions of which will be so liberal that the great majority of teachers will take advantage ol the scheme, and the teaching service be thus placed upon a satisfactory footing."

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