I move:—
That the Secondary Teachers' Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1952, made by the Minister for Education with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be confirmed.
Secondary Teachers' Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1952—Motion to Confirm.
This amendment is being introduced to implement agreements recently reached at the Conciliation Council for Secondary Teachers. The scheme for superannuation for secondary teachers was first introduced in 1929. The scheme, and subsequent amendments up to 1949, gave, up to 1950: (1) retirement pensions, (2) disability pensions, and (3) death gratuities, in return for the annual contribution by the teacher of 4 per cent. of his standard salary, i.e., his basic or school salary plus his incremental salary from the Department and the annual contribution from the school of 2½ per cent. of the teacher's basic salary.
The 1951 scheme introduced further benefits, viz.: (1) retirement gratuity, (2) disability gratuity, (3) improved death gratuity, (4) marriage gratuity for women, (5) all non-members were given a further opportunity of joining the scheme, and existing members were allowed to cover for pension purposes service not already so covered. Members, and non-members who elected to join, were given the option of contributing for gratuities.
The contribution for gratuities in respect of service prior to 1st August, 1950, was calculated in relation to each year on the basis of 1½ per cent. of the teacher's standard salary for 1950-51. After 1950 a contribution of 5 per cent. of current salary will cover both pension and gratuity benefits. A period of up to five years was allowed for payment of arrears of contributions.
The present amendment is designed to effect two further concessions to the teachers, namely, (1) that the rate of arrears in respect of gratuities be reduced from 1½ per cent. to 1 per cent. and (2) that the maximum period for payment of arrears in respect of gratuities be extended from five to ten years.
The reduction in the rate and the extension of the time here proposed will reduce considerably the payments to be made by the teachers concerned, and I am sure that the House will consider the concessions reasonable.
There were also some minor anomalies in the 1951 Amendment Scheme which are now being removed. Their removal is in each case to the benefit of the teacher.
I take it there will be no objection to this amendment of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme. Two of the amendments the Minister has now made were urged by a number of people on both sides of the House when the previous scheme was made last year.
As the Minister says, the present scheme shows the advantages of conciliation and consultation and the improvements are altogether for the benefit of the teachers. I think, therefore, that the question should be entirely agreed.
Question put and agreed to.