SALARIES OF M.P.’S

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 9

SALARIES OF M.P.’S

I consider the claims by our members of Parliament for higher salaries unwarranted and avaricious in the extreme. The prices for exports are receding and we are losing our overseas markets. The average man, who has had rises, besides his heavy living expenses, has also to provide for his old age or live on £3 10s weekly, whereas the politicians, owing to the generous gifts to themselves, have a large-salary, plus expense allowances, plus a large portion tax free, plus a pension of at least £4OO a year, without means test, plus a generous pension for their widows, and are still dissatisfied. And what do they do for all that, I ask you? Miss Howard let the cat out of the bag by saying that she didn’t spend her tune playing billiards! What an opportunity for the Social Credit Political League to voice its disproval of such tactics.—Yours, etc., E. G. WADE. April 20, 1955. Sir,—Led by its wizard of finance, Mr Nash. Labour has consistently opposed private capitalism in favour of State capitalism. Now, owing to higher parliamentary salaries, Labour members have' become private capitalists, each in his own right. Should the commission further increase the salaries of members of Parliament, Labour members will no doubt refund this increase to the State. If they do not do so, several unpleasant charges can truthfully be levelled against them—the charge of hypocrisy, for instance.—Yours, etc.. CITIZEN (NO. 1). April 20, 1955.