PAYMENT OF MEMBERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 September 1927, Page 5

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS

AN INCREASE WANTED. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, September 8. The movement in favour of an increase in the honoraria of members of Parliament, has been revised, and the Government is to be urged to do something in the matter this session, of Parliament, has been revised, and House of Representatives at present, is £450 pel* annum. Formerly it was £5OO, but members agreed to a reduction at the time a “cut” was made in the salaries of civil servants in 1922, under the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act. Members of the Legislative Council receive £315 per year, but it is understood that the present move for an increase is confined to members of the Lower House. There seems to be a desire that honorarium of members of the Lower House should be increased from £450 per annum to something in the vicinity of £650 per annum, and there are. those who favour the establishment of superannuation scheme for Members after they have had nine years’ service in the House.

A meeting of Members of the House of Representatives was held to-day, at which the whole matter was discussed and it was decided to send a deputation to Cabinet to see if something cannot be done this session. It is pointed out that there is reason for asking for an increase because Members incur heavy expense in travelling and lodging allowances which far outweighs any concessions such as free passes on the railways and the 12 return trips by steamer allowed to South Island members.

Further it is stated that high salaried members of the public service receive substantial increments yearly, and Cabinet Ministers are the recipients of liberal travelling allowances, and bearing these facts in mind it is claimed that flie representatives of the people are entitled to some better consideration than they get at present. In large country electorates, it is stated that members are put to heavy expense in travelling even when they use their own cars.

In comparison with the honorarium of £450 pei’ annum received by members of the Lower House in New Zealand, the following are salaries received by members of the Lower Houses in the Australian Parliaments: Victoria £5OO per year, N.S.W. £875, Queensland £750, South Australia £4OO, Tasmania £370 (paid to members living in Hobart) £5OO (paid to members living at a distance from the capital), Western Australia £3OO, Commonwealth £lOOO.

The Land and Income. Tax Department allows members of Parliament to deduct £l5O from their honoraria by way of exemption in making their income tax returns, but even with this allowance it is maintained that the average salary of a member of Parliament after meeting all outgoings in connection with public duties does not amount to much more than £225 per year.