MEMBERS’POSITION

Evening Star, Issue 21079, 16 April 1932, Page 20

MEMBERS’POSITION

POOR AS LAZARUS COMMISSION'S POINTS ANSWERED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, April 15. Tho member of Parliament is the poorest paid individual in the service of tho State, was tho opinion expressed by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Otago Central), when discussing the Expenditure Adjustment Bill in the House. Tho seriousness of the salary reductions that it contained was that they appeared likely to bo permanent. Coming to the position of members of the elected chamber, Mr Bodkin controverted the statements made out side that members were receiving special treatment. He contended that those representing isolated districts were being specially penalised. 31 embers wlio did not live in Wellington had to maintain two homes for tho greater part of the year, and even the most careful of them wjere finding it impossible to live on their honoraria. Though Civil Servants and private employees received travelling allowances, all a member received under this head was £3 12s per annum. _ Tho Economy Commission, in his opinion, had made grossly misleading statements as to tho privileges of members, who were in reality as poor as Lazarus. Reference was made in the report to the cost of rail and steamer passes, but this was really a bookkeeping entry between departments. Some members on tho average had to travel 4,000 miles per annum by motor and foot the bill. Meals at tho parliamentary restaurant cost more than in the city, and Bellamy’s had shown a substantial profit. This was his reply to the commission’s suggestion that Parliament was an exclusive club in which the members lived in the lap of luxury. The apparent loss on Bellamy’s was due to the whole of the cleaning expenses of Parliament Building being charged to it. Members received a stamp allowance of £2 per month, but with most of them this did not pay their telephone bureau calls.