I move:—
That the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1933, made by the Minister for Education with the consent of the Minister for Finance under the Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1928 (No. 32 of 1928) be confirmed.
In explanation of that, I want to say that, about four years ago, a scheme for the provision of pensions for secondary school teachers was brought into operation under the powers conferred by the Teachers' Superannuation Act of 1928. This scheme, however, did not include the teachers in the preparatory colleges. These colleges were established in 1926 for the purpose of providing a course of secondary education for young persons who wish to prepare themselves for admission to a training college with a view to becoming teachers in primary schools and are conducted on lines similar to the ordinary secondary school. The purpose of this amending scheme is to admit the teaching staffs of these colleges to superannuation benefit on the same terms as have been accorded to secondary teachers.
There are 50 teachers in these colleges, 27 of whom are lay persons and 23 members of secular Orders or priests, and it is estimated that about 30 of them will avail of the scheme. It is not obligatory on any teacher to join the scheme. Every teacher who desires to join the scheme will pay into the pension fund a contribution at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum of his total annual salary, and the State will pay into the fund an annual contribution at the rate of 2½ per cent. of the basic salary. The basic salary is reckoned as £200 per annum in the case of a man, and £180 per annum in the case of a woman.
As the Minister for Education is unable to be present, he has asked me to introduce this matter. Perhaps the easiest way in which to do this and to make Senators au fait with the case would be to read a section of the Teachers' Superannuation Act of 1928. Section 2 says:—
"(1) The Minister for Education may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, prepare, in relation to any particular class or classes of teachers, a scheme (in this Act referred to as a superannuation scheme) with the object of providing pensions and gratuities for or in respect of the class or classes of teacher to whom such scheme applied, and (subject to confirmation thereof under this Act) carry such scheme into execution.
"(2) Different superannuation schemes may be prepared, and (subject as aforesaid) be carried into execution by the Minister for Education in relation to different classes of teachers."
Service given by these teachers since August, 1929, when the secondary teachers' scheme came into operation, may be reckoned for pension purposes on payment of the arrears of contributions with compound interest at 3 per cent. before 1st May, 1935.
In the case of teachers who had approved service as secondary teachers prior to August, 1929, such service will be reckoned as non-contributing service as applicable to ordinary secondary teachers.
In conclusion, it is well to draw Senators' attention to the smallness of the sum of money involved, 2½ per cent. for 30 men at £200 is equal to £150, so that Senators need not be over anxious on the score of the money involved.
