END OF SESSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1929, Page 7

END OF SESSION

INCREASE IN SAURY 1 MEMBERS’ VARYING OPINIONS (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 8. Having sat for 19 weeks, Parliament concluded the 1929 session to-day, but not before members had voted themselves an increase in emolument, under the disguise of an allowance of £l6O, . for the current session. This was the only live topic before the House in the dying stages of the session, the last clause in the appropriation Bill providing the necessary legislative authority for the deal. Mr Fletcher criticised the proposal as ill-timed and ill-judged, so far as members were concerned. He thought that public expenditure had been increased sufficiently by reason of the increased provision for unemployment relief and acceleration of State Advances. The civil servants had been deprived of an increase in salaries, but Members were voting what was tantamount for increase to themselves. Mi’ Wright said he believed the Reform Party’s policy was right because it was cautious. The present government, was entering upon an extravagant borrowing policy, and someone would have to pay the piper. He knew that Members had heavy calls upon them in their electorates, but those w r ho had disapproved of any increases when the election campaign was on should not favour the proposed increase in honoraria. Mr Holland said the Labour Party favoured the increase. The Labour Party conference last April had passed a resolution in favour of increases in salaries of Members of Parliament. The present honorarium did not represent a labourer’s wages. He himself did some free lance journalistic work in order to help keep his head above water. Mr Coates said he could not vote tor the increase in the honorarium, although he admitted in that respect, he was against the views of the members of his own party. He considered that increases should be granted to civil servants generally, especially to the lower-paid men. Mr Parry (Labour) said that so far as he was concerned, his hand would not shake when he received the extra allowance.

Mr Harris said he would be surprised if there was any opposition to the proposal. Mr Samuel congratulated the Government on its courageous attitude. The proposal was agreed to by the House. P. & T. PROTEST MASTERTON, November 8. The Wairarapa section of the P. and T. Officers’ Association strongly protests against the proposed Parliamentary bonus which is the restoration of their salary cut under another name. “We maintain that the same reasons as those advanced by the Government as regards finance during the debate on public service salaries should equally apply to the salaries of members of Parliament.” Such was a resolution passed to-day by the Wairarapa section of the P. and T. Association. MORE BILLS PASSED. (Special to ."Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 8. Not for many years has there been such an exhausting, end to a session of Parliament as that of this year. Adjourning at 4.38 a.m. to-day, members resumed then’ business at 10 a.m., and talked on till 10.50 p.m., on as many subjects as they could think of. * The New Zealand University Amendment Bill was held up for some time in committee, objection being raised to the proposal to make an annual statutory grant to the university. Eventually the bill was passed unamended, the Minister (Mr Atmore) refusing to budge. The Destitute Persons’ Rest Homes Bill was passed after reference to destitute persons had been eliminated, so as to give a more eqphimistic title to the bill. It was also agreed 'to provide that the length of time for which a person could be committed to a resthome should be six instead of 12 months.

A number of reports of select committees were dealt with. After the Appropriation Bill had been passed, and after members had sufficiently ’ excused themselves on accepting an “allowance” of £lOO in addition to their honoraria for the current session, a bill validating the setting up of the Transport Department was passed. Before the House rose, it was agreed to meet at 11 o’clock to-morrow morning, for the purpose of making the usual valedictory speeches.