SALARY SHARING

Evening Star, Issue 22271, 24 February 1936, Page 2

SALARY SHARING

WHAT CG-OPTIHG OF M.PiS MEANS PREMIER LOSES E7OO-OTHER MINISTERS ABOUT £SOO FSpecux to me ‘ Star.’] WELLINGTON, February 22. One of the most remarkable developments in connection with the advent of the Labour Government is the sharing of salaries- between Ministers and members. The plan was explained by Mr Nash, Minister of Finance. “ First originating two years ago among the members of the party in. Parliaments it was considered by the annual conference of the party last year, and in moving the adoptioh of the proposal, Mr Savage, the present Prime Minister, said “ that in the event of securing a majority at the next General Election, steps would be taken by the party to give every elected Labour member who is willing to give bis (or her) full time to the Government of the country, an opportunity 'to play a firsthand part in shaping and administering the legislation. ” “Following this decision, the caucus which concluded yesterday,” continued Mr Nash, '• completed the detailed procedure for the distribution of salaries in accordance with the original statement of the Prime Minister, No additional cost would be placed on the Government. The actual sum at present provided on, the Civil List for the 54 Labour members of Parliament and the Ministers attached to the Government will be shared, every _ member participating. The Prime Minister and tha'other Ministers take certain shares, the remaining members receiving a Slightly lesser sum.” , Mr Nash was asked: “ How > will you provide for the extra cost of hospitality and entertainment which must fall on the Prime Minister?”

The Minister replied: A £250 grant from the pool is set aside as a special allowance at the disposal of the Prime Minister for this purpose. “ How about members who have other incomes? Are these incomes all taken into account? ”

“Yes,” answered _Mr Nash, “but whilst the pooling is based on fulltime work for parliamentary or Government duties, some members have other duties for which they receive payment. These sums for work performed will be taken into account.”

Ori being asked How much will tha Prime Minister lose P Mr Nash said: “ If you asked the Prime Minister that question he would answer ‘ I do not lose anything. My objective, the Pnma Minister, would say, and the objective of every member of the Government, is the building up* of a cooperative system in which the standard of living of those who have suffered so much is raised; and' whilst the money factor must be considered, the restoring of decent conditions for the unemployed, pensioners, and others must come first. That would be the answer of the Prim* Minister,” said Mr Nash. • In conclusion, Mr Nash said that the proposals will operate as from tha opening of the next financial year, April 1. - The readjustment means that the Prime .Minister actually receives £7OO less than the sum provided on the Civil List, and the other Minister from £4OO to £SOO per annum less, whilst the incomes of the ordinary members will ha increased by slightly more than £IOO per annum each, the implication all the time being that every participating member devotes his whole time to tha job. The job to be concluded is tha building of a good standard for everybody. particularly those who have suffered during the past five years.