POLITICIANS’ SALARIES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29192, 30 April 1960, Page 12

POLITICIANS’ SALARIES

Member’s Reply To Mr Colliding (New Zeaiana Press Association! WELLINGTON, April 29. The comment “when we keep on raising the salaries of members of Parliament we create professional politicians. They are not statesmen. Their only concern is to retain their seat long enough to qualify for a pension” which was made last Wednesday by Mr A. M. Goulding. formerly chairman of the Licensing Control Commission, and a former Stipendiary Magistrate, drew a reply today from the Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives, Mr R. A. Keeling (Government, Gisborne). Mr Goulding made his comment when addressing a luncheon meeting of the Wellington Alligators Club. “Does Mr Goulding's objection to the raising of salaries of members of Parliament relate only to New Zealand, or also to parliaments overseas, where many countries pay their parliamentarians considerably more than is the case here?” Mr Keeling asked. "Another question I should like to ask is why Mr Goulding should apply his remarks only to politicians, and not to other workers receiving increased remuneration in line with increased costs. “Would he have membership of Parliament confined to those with private means, or with no family commitments?

“After all. there is nothing to stop Mr Goulding standing for Parliament himself. If his policies are acceptable to the electors, he would have an opportunity to judge at first hand whether the present remuneration of M.P.'s is excessive in the circumstances. Cabinet Governments

“Mr Goulding's objection to the long-established principle of collective responsibility in Cabinet government is also difficult to understand. The collective responsibility of ministers has long been regarded, in the Mother Country and elsewhere, as a cornerstone x of democracy. After all, collective responsibility stems from collective decisions, which appears to be a far more reliable and responsible method of policymaking than leaving it to the sole judgment of individuals.

"As for Mr Goulding’s allegation that his offer to appear before the Select Committee on Licensing has been ignored," said Mr Keeling, "to my knowledge, Ss chairman of this committee, there has been no official approach from Mr Goul ding. Even at this late stage, however, I personally should be very glad to receive any submissions he would like to make on liquor licensing." Asian Relief The Christmas appeal of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand for relief work in Asia has just passed the £30.000 mark. Known as the “No Room In the Inn” the appeal has been held in the 1500 congregations in New Zealand which are affiliated to the National Council of Churches. The figure aimed at was £25,000, which was £5OOO above the sum collected in the previous year.