May I go into a bit of past history in regard to the reports on Security of Tenure; Leave of Absence; Retiring Gratuity.

For many years Leave of Absence and Security of Tenure has been a much discussed question.  With the enlarged Central Board it was necessary to have some plans, regarding leave of absence and tenure, that would apply equally to all teachers under the C.B.  With these items in view as well as salaries, a three part brief was drawn up by men's and women's Feds and presented to you and unanimously approved. It was then presented to the C.B. They wished to take it in separate parts, to which we agreed. The brief, with regard to needs and merits, was approved by the C.B, although points of practical application were amended and it finally reached the form you now have in your hands and will become part of the printed regulations of the C.B. Personally, I feel that it is both just and generous. We have 15 days sick leave per year instead of 6 or 10 with an accumulative bank of days to be drawn on for past years of service at a rate of 7 days a year. It also provided a reward in the form of a retiring gratuity for faithful service rendered.  Although your committee has tried to foresee its application in all respects, there may be case which need to be adjusted and definite rules set down to apply to particular cases. This situation is true in any new plan that involves so many people.  These, I believe, you may trust to your committee and the C.B. to be fairly dealt with.  This retiring gratuity has been paid to the teachers who retired from the Board's service last June under the plan first submitted to the teachers by the C.B.  This plan allowed 5 days a year for past service up to July 1945. This, at our request, was raised to 7 days. This means that all those who have already rec'd the gratuity will receive very shortly a cheque for the extra two days per year. Unfortunately, Mr. Ilsley wisely or unwisely, has stated that all gratuities and bonuses are subject to Income Tax. So that this money is taxable and the tax has not been deducted by the Board. However, this tax can be paid out over a period of 3 to 5 years. This will be a considerable saving (roughly 150. Per thousand)  if the income tax is reduced, as we hope it will be in the next few years. The principle of a sabbatical year was approved but at the present time could not be considered  with the shortage of teachers. It will remain for the new committee to ask again under more favourable circumstances.