"SOFTEST JOB IN THE COUNTRY."

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 85, 20 October 1928, Page 11

"SOFTEST JOB IN THE COUNTRY."

A sidelight on Parliamentary life was provided by Mr. 11. Holland, Rcf'grm. Party caiidulats for Christcliurch North, in his address on Thursday night (states the "Lyttelton Times"); "Tho Labour Party is always .trying to make people dissatisfied," said Mr. Holland. "At the end of sessions members tmtally mskft refiraeiiet* to fb.o wpte vi -y*e m.^eengcMi §od _ffld__»

lies. They have the softest job in New Zealand, and sit on nice cushion' cd scats near the- doors. They, are supposed to open the door for a member to enter or leave. They will post you a letter, or dispatch a telegram, and do other such services. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland), in speaking of the loug hours which the messengers were supposed to have worked, said that it was a wonder that thoy did not organise and demand better conditions and pay. I believe that the Leader of the- Opposition also said that he would help them along those lines. I inquired of the messengers and found that their pay was 14a a day, and that they worked in two shifts, their average hours in the last session being seven hours nineteen minutes per day, not including the Committee stages. If the House sits well into tho night the messengers get a free supper, and if the House sits until 3 a.m. the messengers get a free supper at that 'hour. They also receive a bonus of from £io to £5 at the end of the session. This bonus is subscribed by members. The declaration of the Leader of the Opposition shows that the Labour Party makes for dissatisfaction." .