§ MR. MACALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether there are in the service of the Board of National Education in Ireland numerous second-class teachers who only receive third-class salaries; can he explain upon what principle this system is sanctioned by the Board of National Education; and will he undertake to communicate with the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland with a view to seeing that teachers are paid the full salaries attaching to their classification.
§ *THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. G. W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)At the request of my right hon. friend I will answer this question. There are many teachers ranking in second class who receive but third class salary under the Board's rules, namely, principal teachers the average attendance at whose schools is less than 30 pupils, and assistant teachers who are entitled only to third class salary as such. After five 439 years' service, however, the assistant teachers receive under the Education Act of 1892 a bonus which nearly equalises their emoluments with the salary of second class. Those arrangements are based on the principle of fixing remuneration in proportion to the duties and responsibilities of the recipient. The Commissioners do not recognise the claim that teachers should under all circumstances be paid the full salaries attaching to their classification.
§ MR. MACALEESEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the same system obtains in this country?
§ *MR. G. W. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot answer that question.