PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES.

Evening Star, Issue 19674, 29 September 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES.

Mu Coatms has made one statement at Raglan which is sure oi' more approval than disapproval from everyone except, perhaps, candidates lor that seat and present members of Parliament. In answer to a question ho is reported to have said that he was in favor of members’ salaries being raised “at a suitable time,” and “ when the proper opportunity presented itself.” To a further question ho replied that that time would be when the country could afford it. That should make it perfectly clear that there will be no increase of salaries made this session. It would be a strange process of reasoning which would regard the present season, when, apart from other aspects, economy is the watchword of the hour, as a proper time. Members who had been hoping that some provision might be made this year for an increase must be satisfied to defer their hopes and set an example of sacrifice. Dissatisfaction with the present recompense for parliamentary labors is fairly frequently expressed, but seldom at the time when pleas for a higher wage might bo made with the most appropriateness, which is at a General Election. Some delicacy would bo required in making them then, since a front place for such a request hi the programme of a political aspirant would be unlikely to commend him to electors; but a contract is made at every General Election between the people and the legislators whom they elect to work for them, and that is when salaries should be fixed. A strong case would bo made for some increase

“at a suitable time” of the parliamentary honorarium, to give it its polite name, if it was correctly staled by Mr Coates that New Zealand pays its members less than any other part ol the Emmie. The rate is certainly low as eomoared with some other parts. Till ..even vears ago it .stood at £3OO a year for members of the House of Bepresentatives and something less lor Councillors. Those payments were raised b.v an amendment of the Civil List in 1920 to £SOO and £350 respectively. but reductions wore made by the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act of 1922 to £450 and £315. Travelling expenses to and from Wellington arc also allowed. Salaries of tho representative State legislators in Australia range from £3OO in Tasmania (which is too s, 11 lor proper comparison with Now Zealand) to £SOO in Queensland and Victoria and £875 in New South Wales, railway and postal privileges being in each ease added. A suggestion made when the matter was being canvassed by some New Zealand politicians this session was that the dominion rate for members of the representative chamber tshuuld bo raised to £650. which by the standard fixed in 1920 would bo too much ol an increase. And as the cut which was made in 1922 was nut confined to legislators, restoration of that deduction would lead to claims fur a general increase of salaries in the Public. Service which would not be practicable at the present Lime. What liie country would like to see and what it should bo very willing to pay for is a raising of the average standard of those who come forward to serve it as legislators. But there is evidence that that would bo i id need by a. raising of salaries, which might lend more to have the opposite effect.