POLITICIANS’ SALARIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 October 1925, Page 5

POLITICIANS’ SALARIES.

THE N.S.W. INCREASE

MEMBERS DISAGREE. Bl CABLE—PREBB ASSOCIATION —IiOFVKIGHI. SYDNEY, Oct. 28. In the Assembly the Prime Minister (Mr J. T. Lang) said he desired to correct his statement that only Mr Lysaght refused the increased salary. He had since learned that Mr T. R. Bavin also refused. Referring, to his cable'to Mr M. JSavage (Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party), which read that all parties joined in the movement for increased salaries, Mr Lang said that was an absolutely true statement. Members of the Government had been approached by members of the Nationalist Party, requesting an increase and offering to get up a round robin for signature. Certain Nationalists asked the Attorney-General to apply the closure during the debate, so that they would not have to express their opinions regarding the increase. Mr Bavin thereupon explained that he was unaware that individual Nationalists had approached the Government to bring about an increase. The Nationalist Party had unanimously voted against an increase, and Mr Lang’s cable to New Zealand was an incorrect statement. Mr Bavin added that he had cabled to Mr Savage last night that Mr Lang’s statement to the effect that the Salaries Bill had passed the Assembly with the full approval of all parties was entirely incorrect. It was carried on a division against the Opposition, with all the Nationalist members voting against the increase. Mr Lang resented Mr Bavin sending a cable to New Zealand. He recalled that a deputation had previously waited on the former Premier (Sir George Fuller) and asked for. an increase in salaries to £875. This proved that the Nationalists wanted it. and all he could say was that Mr Bavin was the greatest humbug and hypocrite in the House.

Further discussion disclosed that a members’ petition to Mr Lang in favour of an increase was placed in the National Party’s room, hut was afterwards torn down and disappeared.