TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 936, 24 April 1901, Page 3

TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION.

© (liV TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION). Weixincton, Lfist Night. The Teachers' Snlnrirs ''om-nission opened yesterday. Ir was decided that the Commission should visit the thirteen Education Districts of the colony for the purpose oi taking evidence, and, if necessary, get an extension of time to enable it to complete its investigations. Mr fx. Mosben, tha Secretiry of the Education Department nfter expressing the wish on behalf of the Department to give every iufoination in his power, laid before the Commission >i memoraiidum prepared by himself for the Minister of Education, in which a Colonial scale for staff and salaries was suggested. He said the scope of these suggestions was to imp ove the condition of schools and teachers, and bring about u uniformity of staffs and salorie.*, and to entourage evp«-rt teachers* to remain in the service of the Hoards, mid to prevent the exi line nf ho rpial'ties and anoint lies in ine various (listiie-tt. Me denied that there w»s in y desire diclosed in the scheme or ex : Slcnt in his mind to les-en the functions, piivileges, or responsibilities of Education Boards, either iu regard to appointment of teachers, or payment of salaries. Qutte the rever.-e. His scheme "as t|Uito a tentative one, and Ministers were in no way conn: itteii to it. Wellington, This Day.

At the Tead ers' Salaries Commission, Mr Hogben, Secretary of the Departnieut, said in ref. renee to pupil teachers the present proportion was 2A adults t;> one pupil teacher, and the scale proposed by tha Department would eive 385 adults to onu pti]>'l teacher. In uoudon it was 4!t to onu. and in Birmingham four to one. If nil the pupil teachers now iu the colony continued for reasonable time in the course of their profession, there wuuld. in course of time, he more teachers f Inn wen- needed, and this after "-"iking; allowance for fenml'teaeher» who dropped out of t!ie ranks through marriage and other cause*.

Speaking on the proportion of pupils to each teacher be said the proposed scale would give an average of 3S pupils, whereas In London the number was a fraction over ovrr 33 and in Birmingham 34. These figures would show that the Department, though proposing a more liberr.l proportion iu New Zealand was not too liberal. The proportion ot pupil teachers in the lt«g« schools in some districts wa« too hieh. The proposed scile would gi v e 1354 assistants, an increase of nearly 500. Mr Hogben explained with regard to the proposed scale of salaries that the highest salary now paid in any board school or 20 was £lls. The scle suggested by' 1 the Department for such school was £l2O for a male, and £lO4 for a feroale teacher. For schools of ]OO the salaries now p.-id ranged from £IOO to £125. It was proposed that it should be £lB9. In schools nf 250 salaries ranging from £203 !o £275 were tioiv paid. The DeptrNr.eiit proposed £225. Salaries iu schools of fiOO range'! at present* from £258 *n £375. The Department proposed £.'124 for male teachers.