MEMBERS WILL VOTE THEMSELVES BONUS IN APPROPRIATION BILL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7061, 8 November 1929, Page 4

MEMBERS WILL VOTE THEMSELVES BONUS IN APPROPRIATION BILL

More Than 1922 “Cut”

ALL PARTIES AGREE THEY ARE UNDERPAID

COURAGEOUS, AT ANY RATE,

From Our Parliamentary Reporter, WELLINGTON, Last Night,

There is good reason to believe the Appropriation Bill introduced in the House to-morrow will contain provision for a bonus to members of Parliament. They have been suffering from the disadvantage imposed on public servants by the retrenchment measure of 1922. as they participated in the salary “cuts" to the extent of £SO, bringing the salary of an elected member down to £450 and that of a Legislative councillor to £350.

The matter has been raised in deputations to the Government during several successive sessions and it is stated that there is a fairly unanimous feeling among all parties that legislators should receive more remuneration.

The present Prime Minister was one of the influential members of last Parliament who constituted a non-party deputation to the former Government in favour of an increased honorarium.

The request is to bo met by the granting of an annual bonus, which it is expected, will substantially exceed the amount of the reduction experienced in 1922.

Probably having in mind a coming event Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) remarked in tho House tonight, when the Legislative Department’s estimates were under consideration, that the New Zealand Parliament was the lowest paid in the British Empire. It was nothing to bo proud about, and when Hew Zealand members met those from other Parliaments, they found that their legislature was looked at from that point of view as tho cheapest run show in the British Dominions. The salaries in some of the States in' Australia were slightly lower, but most of them were only glorified municipal councils. Other Parliaments of the Empire had higher salaries and their permanent officials were also better paid. It is freely stated that the proposed increase in the payment of members is £IOO a year. In the face of tho salary ‘cuts’ it must have taken some courage to put such an item in tho Bill.