THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1942. PARLIAMENTARY PAY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3282, 30 June 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1942. PARLIAMENTARY PAY

As a member of the House who is not seeking re-election, Mr H. G. Dickie felt that he was very free to criticise the lowness of the salary that is paid to members of Parliament In doing so he has criticised the cost of the Legislative Council in relation to its usefulness, a subject clearly admissible in an elected assembly charged with the responsibility of administering State funds. Mr Dickie’s dissatisfaction with Parliamentary salaries is not new, but he is the first to ventilate the subject in the light of present rising costs and of increased rates 1 of pay generally. The payment due to a member of the House of Representatives is £450 per annum, less certain deductions for absence not due to sickness or other unavoidable cause. Labour Party members fare much better than those of the National Party; the system of sharing Ministerial salaries with the rank and file of the party increases the average salary paid. Normally the Prime Minister receives £lBOO per annum and other Ministers £ll7O. In addition they occupy a Ministerial residence or receive a house allowance of £2OO per annum. Thus it is evident that National and Independent members of the Lower House are not well placed in comparison with Labour members and are only slightly better paid than members of the Legislative Council at £315 per annum, this sum in most cases being supplementary to the Councillor’s normal earnings. The domestic arrangement within the Labour Party should not influence public opinion on the question whether the nation is giving sufficient monetary recognition to men whose tasks and responsibilities are of major national importance. A democracy can be made more efficient and workable when it ceases to become a financial hardship for those elected to administer it.

RATS

From time to time the people of a community become most complacent about the rat menace, which, as well as being the cause of much material damage, is a major means of the spread of disease. At the present time, it would seem that the rat population- in Paeroa is on the increase, and the owners and occupiers of business premises and residences must take steps to cope with the position. The methods to be adopted can be left to the individuals, but if an appreciable reduction in the number of rodents is. to be effected, there must be wholehearted co-operation. It is of little use if one man takes reasonable steps to rid his premises of rates and his neighbour provides a haven for the vermin. In some municipalities a week is set aside for the prosecution of a vigorous warfare against the rodents, and we would suggest that the Paeroa Borough Council give some lead in the matter, and clean up the borough in this direction.