REFUSING THE BONUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 280, 26 November 1929, Page 8

REFUSING THE BONUS.

MR. COATES AND OTHERS. "POLITICAL GESTURE." LABOUR MEMBERS' CONDEMNATION". The announcement was made in Wellington yesterday that the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, would refuse to accept the "special payment" of £100 voted by members of Parliament to themselves. Mr. Coates, it was declared, would-not accept the money until the lower paid Civil Servants have received their promised increase. To-day a Press Association message from Stratford announces that Mr. W, J. Poison,• MiP. for Stratford, will ■ also refuge the money. Mr. Poison said he had opposed the proposal at the interparty meeting when it was discussed. He considered that reclassilication and regrading in the Public Service were imperative. The Leader of the Labour party, Mr. H. E. Holland, in a long statement in Westport to-day, reported by the Press Association, says that in view of the Reform party's policy as expressed in Parliamentary divisions, Mr. Coates' "death-bed repentance" pronouncements will not be regarded seriously. He asks why Mr. Coates did not move a motion in the House expressing his objection to the bonus. ■

Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P. for Auckland Central, also replied to Mr. Coates. Hβ said that with the Hutt by-election impending Mr. Coates' decision "looked suspiciously like £100 worth of political advertising." It was "nothing more than a 'political gesture." Mr. Parry also, said that Mr. R. A. Wright,.M.P., the first to refuse the bonus, was inconsistent. Mr. Wright, while Minister of Education, had, Mr. Parry , alleged, accepted £200 a year byway of Ministerial house allowance while living in his own house in Wellington.