Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of first class teachers at present in the service of the Commissioners of National Education; the number of such teachers who have had their salaries reduced owing to the average at their schools falling below thirty-five, and whether a privileged assistant if first class is allowed her first class salary irrespective of average, while the principal teacher of the same school if first class has his salary reduced if the average falls below thirty-five.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe number of first class teachers at present in the service of the Commissioners of National Education is 2,015. The information asked for in the second paragraph of the question is not available. Privileged assistants are teachers who had been principals of national schools which, for educational reasons, were amalgamated with other national schools, and they receive salaries as privileged assistants not less than they were in receipt of as principals prior to the amalgamation of their schools.