COMMISSION ON SALARIES OF M.P.’s

Press, Volume C, Issue 29448, 25 February 1961, Page 10

COMMISSION ON SALARIES OF M.P.’s

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today announced the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon salaries and allowances of Ministers and members of Parliament.

The commission is: Mr Edward Denis Blundell, of Wellington (chairman), Mr George Thomas Bolt, of Wellington, and Mr John Andrew, of Hyde, Central Otago. Mr Holyoake said the Civil List Act, 1950, provided for the salaries and allowances of Ministers and members to be

fixed by the Governor-Gen-eral upon the recommendation of a Royal Commission An amendment to the act in 1955 required that the commission be appointed within three months of the date of the General Election. Mr Holyoake said a great deal of thought had been given to the selection of the commission in an effort to obtain the widest and most experienced representation pos--ible. and he thought this had been achieved.

The chairman. Mr Blundell a barrister and solicitor, was anpointed counsel to assist the first Royal Commission on Parliamentary Salaries, under the chairmanship of the late Sir Arthur Donnelly. He was been president of the Wellington Law Society and is chairman of the Air Services Licensing Authority. He is □resident of the New Zealand Cricket Council.

Mr Bolt was a public servant until his retirement in 1958. He served on the Public Service Commission throughout the 42 years of his career. Hp was secretary of the commission from 1934 to 1944 and when the commission of three members was created in 1946 he became a member, and was chairman from. 1953 to 1958. Mr Andrew is a sheepfarmer who has taken a prominent part in farming organisations. He was president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand from 1953 to 1957. was for two terms president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, and is a member of the council of the Sheepowners’ Federation and a member of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board.

The commission is required to present its repdrt to the Governor-General on or before July 31.