Windfall For Ci Native
p. 103 · Read in the full issue
Teachers
From Our Own Correspondent MANGAIA, Cl, June 1.
DUE since shortly before the late Labor Government of NZ went out of of fice, and possibly a last gesture by that altruistic administration, the long awaited Teachers’ Drawback —a cash bonus, graded according to length of ser vice—has been paid out to the local school staffs, amid much rejoicing.
The bonuses, amounting to from some £lO to £3O, had been scheduled to arrive last year, but owing to some hitch in the arrangements, were not paid until re cently.
The way in which this windfall was spent would have interested students of Polynesian psychology and Gallup-poll enthusiasts. Girls on the staff indulged
in a positive orgy of artificial silks and gay print; the males went in for gas lamps, clocks and other artifacts of European civilisation, until in most cases there was nothing left of the bonus, though a few Scot-like souls salted down a few pounds in the PO Savings Bank, just to be on the safe side!
There is foundation for this canniness.
A similar largesse of the Education De partment bestowed during the war, proved to be a departmental error, and was revoked—the teachers had to repay the amounts granted, out of salary at £2 monthly. Fervent hopes have been expressed that the present one may not be a similar Indian gift.
Mr. J. R. Keenan, Assistant District Officer Rabaul, NG, departed on the Tung Sha on June 3 for England. He will join Mrs. Keenan who has been in the UK since the beginning of this year.
He will be away about 12 months.