LEGISLATIVE SALARIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE SALARIES.

It is not very easy to understand. | the reason for the introduction of the Legislative Officers’ Salaries Bill which was discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday. ’Jfhe salary of the Speaker of the House was fixed at £6OO and that of the Chairman of Committees at £4OO by the Act of 1867, but they have since beenvaried by their appearance on the Supplementary Estimates. So far as the duties 'go, the extra remuneration is ample payment, hut it is urged now that the Speaker of the House has a certain dignity to maintain which cannot be adequately uphold on liis present salary. It has to be admitted that the competition for salaries is t-ho worst feature of democratic institutions, and New Zealand should avoid encouraging the evil. We disapprove strongly of the creation of new and unnecessary salaried positions in Parliament. When the House wants deputy-chairmen there are always plenty of willing members' able and ready to preside over the deliberations of the committee. The experience, in fact, is greatly sought in some Parliaments, and there has certainly been no difficulty in pact years in finding members to relieve the regular chairman in a long sitting. The fact that the two deputy-chairmen appointed would not be the first men in the House to he chosen in the ordinary course of business does not affect the principle. The offices are unnecessary, and it is regrettable to find the House ready to spend the money of the country on such purely ornamental positions. The legislature becomes year by year a heavier charge ok the Treasury, and that, we are afraid, without any marked increase in its efficiency. • No one complained of the increases to Ministers’ salaries, because even now the great State Departments are controlled by men receiving salaries lower than those ruling for the. management of big commercial houses. It is on the “frills” of Parliament, go l to speak, that money is chiefly wasted. The salaries of the deputy-chairmen, of course, are a mere bagatelle, and it is the principle of the appointments that is wrong. Parliament should be very slow to discourage the wholesome competition for pure experience and honour.