Teachers’ accommodation

The headmaster at the Otoku School recently wrote to the Otago Education Board, pointing out the disabilities under which he laboured in regard to a residence, and asked that a new one be erected. He said that when he was a single man he accepted the disabilities cheerfully, but now that he was married it was different. It was pointed out that the teacher married when well aware of the disabilities, and it was resolved to inform him that if he desired better quarters his best plan would be to apply for a position where these were available. In his letter relating to his experiences in searching for lodgings as a single man, he waited upon one resident and asked her if she would be willing to take him as a boarder. Her reply was brief and to the point — she didn’t want any more d—d teachers staying with her. The chairman remarked that in the old days residents were only too willing, even eager, to board the teachers in order to get them appointed, but now they fairly bombarded the board with requests for teachers, and when they were sent would not give them accommodation.

Track and field team in town

The visiting South African athletes, who arrived by the first express from Christchurch yesterday, were met on the Dunedin Station by a fairly numerous crowd. The Mayor (Mr J.S. Douglas) and a number of the officials of the Otago Centre of the NZAAA welcomed Mr J.G. Emery, the manager, and his team, which is comprised of Messrs J.K. Ayres-Oosterlaak, J.W. Bakes and R. Johnston (Transvaal), and H.P. Kinsman and D.A. Leathern (Natal). From the records of the visitors it will be seen that they are athletes of outstanding ability. If the weather is favourable the sports meeting, which will be conducted under the auspices of the NZAAA at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, should be one of the most interesting yet held in this city.

Kinsman, Bakes, Oosterlaak and Emery, the relay team, will run under Olympic conditions and allow a margin of 10 yards on either side of the starting point; so, by going to the rear mark and starting at the word “Go,” from the preceding runner, the exchange of the stick is effected while the men are travelling at full speed. As this style of running a relay race has not been seen previously in Dunedin, the event will arouse more than ordinary interest, as it enables the runners to make considerably faster times than is possible by the old method of passing the stick at the post.

Awaiting salary reductions

Wellington: The Public Expenditure Adjustment Bill, which contains the proposals of the Government for the reduction of salaries in the public service,  has not yet been made quite clear and the Prime Minister’s further explanation when he moves the second reading of the Bill tomorrow is awaited with interest. The Bill does not contain any provision for safeguarding the lower paid men who did not receive the full £50 bonus. Clause 6 provides that in the cases of all persons whose salaries do not exceed £800 a year the rate of reduction as from January 1 shall be £15 per annum, increased by £5 per annum in cases where the rate of remuneration exceeded £320 per annum, and by a further £5 where the rate exceeded £500 per annum. The corresponding reduction in the cases of persons paid on an hourly or daily ratio is to be 1 shilling a day, increased by fourpence per day where the total annual payment exceeds £320. The Prime Minister stated when he was introducing the Bill, however, that the Government did not intend to reduce the basic wage, which had stood at £165.  — ODT, 19.1.1922.