The Press FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1955. Parliamentary Salaries

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27735, 12 August 1955, Page 10

The Press FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 1955. Parliamentary Salaries

Though substantial, the increases in legislators’ salaries recommended by [the Royal Commission are generally |in line with the higher level of salaries paid to other sections of the ‘community since 1951. Something like these increases is necessary if j Cabinet Ministers and private mem- ■ bers are to be able to uphold the dignity of Parliament and to go ! about their work with a reasonable sense of security. Even under the * proposed scale, the ordinary member lof Parliament will earn no more ■ than the best-paid waterside workers lin New Zealand. At. £llOO a year, Ihe will still get less than a member jof the Australian House of Repre- ■ sentatives (£ 1400), the New South Wales Assembly (£1500), or the ; Queensland Assembly (£1260). The (straits to which some members of Parliament without private means were reduced in New Zealand 10 years ago were no credit to this country, and were certainly not conducive to the proper administration of national affairs. Cabinet Ministers are now paid less than most departmental heads, and even the recommended increase will not i bring them up to the level of the most highly-paid public servants. Yet Ministers are called on for exacting political as well as administrative work spread over long hours. Even on their rare holidays, members of the Cabinet can seldom rely for long on being free of their duties. Compared with salaries paid by private businesses for less arduous service, Ministers will be no more than fairly paid. The Prime Minister’s salary and allowances, like the much larger salary and allowance of the Governor-General, are inquired not only for his own comfort and convenience but so that he may adequate!; represent his country at home and abroad. The increased salary and allowance recommended for the Leader of the Opposition are not over-high for the leader of the alternative government, who must devote time and ability to keeping up with national affairs. A minor point in the commission’s report, but a welcome one, is the recognition of the special difficulties of the member for Southern Maori, whose constituents are to be found in the area of 43 European electorates, and of the other Maori members. While such electorates are thought necessary the men who represent them are entitled to consideration. Two general comments should be added. First, Parliament’s decision to take the fixing of salaries out of politics by providing for review by an independent was a wise one, which should prevent party competition in parsimony, and convince citizens that the scales are reasonable. Second, the payment of reasonable salaries and allowances entitles the country to expect good service, and to have first call on the time of members, as it has on the time of Ministers. Members now (have no occasion to hurry back to I their electorates or to skimp their work on committees. If it takes 'some time to raise the degree of responsibility among legislators, it should be remembered that only in recent years have they been reasonably paid, so the country as a whole can blame itself for the remaining results of a small-minded attitude.