SALARY OF MR: SPEAKER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 9

SALARY OF MR: SPEAKER

LABOUR WANTS IT RAISED INQUIEY PKOPOSED British Official Wireless. RUGBY, 22nd June. Mr. William Graham,' Labour member of Parliament and an ex-Minister who is Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a Parliamentary body which keeps close watch upon departmental expenditure, has put down a motion on behalf of the Labour Party asking for an inquiry into the "emoluments and expenses attaching to the office of Speaker.'' Mr. Graham's view, which is shared by most members of the House, is that the salary of tho Speaker, which has remained fixed since 1895 at £5000 yearly, is now inadequate in view of the expenses attached to the post. The cost ofr the official hospitality he must offer is, alone, about £1500. It is regarded as possible that the scope of a Committee representative ■of the whole House which would consider the matter may be extended to include the question qf salaries paid to Ministers. It is notorious that many of these are inadequate, the experience •of successive Prime Ministers' having [ been that the financial calls made upon them far. exceed' the annual £5000 re.ceived. Taxes alone on that amount are over £1000. Ministerial salaries generally vary from £2000 to £5000, with the exception of, legal posts, which are nio're remunerative.