It would be desirable to mention just one point as we pass this Resolution, that is, with regard to the payment that is proposed to be made to those teachers who retired prior to the 1st January, 1950. The Minister is to be congratulated on squeezing this additional grant for teachers who retired before the 1st January, 1950, out of the Minister forFinance. It is undersirable, I suppose, that you have these great changes in the conditions that affect teachers or that affect any other class of official simply because something happened on a particular date. The Minister has indicated that he will not be able to pay this grant in one sum to the people affected. The suggestion is that it will be paid in three annual instalments. The sum of money involved is £400,000. The Minister indicates that this is such a large sum it would not be possible to pay it all at once and, therefore, one-third is to be paid this year, one-third next year, and one-third the following year. The resources and the credit of the State should be great enough to be able to pay this money to the teachers involved straight away. Once the concession is being given, I have hesitated to press as to why it is not possible to have it paid now in one payment, when we consider the amount of money that can be made available for purposes that are less poignant in many aspects than the purpose of paying this grant to retired teachers.
The Minister is very well aware of the circumstances in which many teachers retire. Their emoluments are not very great and, in the case of married teachers, the Minister is aware that marriage among teachers is very often a late marriage and teachers may find themselves retiring at 65 years of age with a family at a rather difficult stage, with young people at the tail end of their educational course and not yet in a position of earning. These teachers on retiring find themselves in a very difficult position. Many of the teachers who retired at that particular time retired in rather difficult family circumstances. I have hesitated to put down a question asking the Minister how many of the teachers involved are likely to die this year, how many are likely to die next year and how many are likely to die the following year. There is the aspect, apart altogether from their circumstances, that the Government, once they have made up their minds to pay the grant, ought to be able to make up their minds to pay it in full, realising the circumstances in which these teachers retired, and particularly the difficulties in whichpeople with any kind of family responsibilities find themselves.
I do not know whether there is anything in this scheme which would bind the Minister not to pay the amount in a lump sum after further consideration, but it would be a pity if the Minister by his attitude or statement to-day would tie his hands in the matter. I am sure he appreciates the situation and that he will do everything he can to press that matter. I am sure he will have the support of every side of the House in pressing the Minister for Finance to accede to any appeal he will make to that Minister to secure that this comparatively small sum of money will be paid in one lump sum.
