TEACHERS' SICK PAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 29 May 1914, Page 6

TEACHERS' SICK PAY.

ALLOWANCES INSUFFICIENT A WIDESPREAD COMPLAINT.

The Taranaki Education lioard has recently been inquiring into the systems adopted by the various education boards for providing nay for teachers who are absent on sick leave, it has made inquiries in all parts of New Zealand, and the replies disclose a very unsatisfactory condition. A report of the finance committee to Wednesday's meeting of the Board reads:—

"With one exception, every Board finds the allowance made, by .the Department is insufficient to cover the amount required. "The position of this Board h most unsatisfactory in this connection, inasmuch as the debit is creeping up to such an extent that we are overdrawn to tile extent of nine months' capitation. At the end of tho year 1913, the debit balance to this fund was fls sd, at the end of 1913 £66 fls Id, and the present debit is now £BS Us sd. As it is imposible for this state of things to continue, we recommend that the Department be written to. stating that this Beard is of opinion that the grant made to the relieving fund is insufficient to meet the requirements, and that the Education Department should determine in what terms teachers should have leave of absence, and find all the salary necessary to comply with these tennis. We. further recommend that a. copy of this resolution be sent to the various Education Boards, and that they oe asked to support it."

Letters read shewed that the Westland Board granted a month's sick leave on full pay, and its fund had recently been am-jiderably overdrawn. The Grcymounth Board granted the same concession, found that the capitation was not sufficient to meet the requirements of relieving teachers, and in December last had a deficit of £6B lis lOd. The Otago Board, which allowed 1 on month's salary, found the allowance of fid per head insufficient on the whole. Wanganui, who allowed two months' pay, found its fund not nearly sufficient to cover relieving teachers' salaries. Nelson and North Canterbury both reported that they found the allowances insufficient. They had made representations to the Department on several occasions. The only Board which had found its allowance equal to the strain was South Canterbury. It was decided to act on the Finance Committee's recommendations. The cooperation of other Boardi will be asked for.