Members’ Salary Increase

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7298, 27 October 1933, Page 7

Members’ Salary Increase

Criticism by Australian Press

ME LYONS DEFENDS GOVERNMENT’S ACTION

United Press Association—By Eloctric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Thursday, 10.35 p.m. CANBERRA, Oct. 20. In tho House of Representatives today, Mr Bernard Corser, on a question of "privilege, attacked the Sydney Sun following its trenchant criticism ot Parliamentarians in increasing their own salaries. Ho declared that the paper’s comment was malicious and unscrupulous, and he asked tho House to declare the printer and publisher guilty of contempt. Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister) defended the Government's action in increasing salaries and deprecated the action of newspapers in all States in ■engendering a suspicion in .the . public mind reflecting on the integrity of members and in attempting to destroy public confidence in its elected representatives. He repudiated a suggestion that the salaries were raised by back-door methods and said the whole thing had been done in the light of day. It was distinct from the Budget, because it involved no matter of policy. He felt that members of Parliament were entitled to a partial restoration of the salary cuts which they voluntarily imposed during the depression, just as •other sections of the community were thus favoured. Paper Declared Guilty oi Contempt Received Thursday, 12.15 p.m. CANBERRA, Oct. 2G. Mr Oorsor’s motion asking tho House !to declare tho printer and publisher of the Sydney Sunday Sun guilty of contempt was carried unanimously, and a copy of this will bo sent to the Sunday Sun. Senate’s Sanction INCREASE FEDERAL MEMBERS’ SALARIES. CANBERRA, Oct. 26. In the early hours of the morning, the Senate, by ID votes to 9 passed tho measure increasing Federal members’ salaries by £75 a year.