THE POOREST PAID

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1932, Page 2

THE POOREST PAID

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

MR BODKIN COMPLAINS

(From Our Parliamentary Special.)

WELLINGTON, Saturday,

That the member of Parliament is the poorest paid individual in the service of the State was the opinion expressed by Mr W, A, Bodkin (United — Otago Central) when discussing the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill in the House yesterday. The seriousness of the salary reductions it contained was that they appeared likely to be permanent, said Mr Bodkin, who denied statements outside that members were receiving special treatment. He contended that those representing isolated districts were being specially penalised. Members who did not live in Wellington had to maintain two homes for the greater part of the year, and even the most, careful of them were finding it impossible to live on their honoraria. Though Civil Servants and private employees received travelling allowances, all a .member received under that head was £3 12/- pev annum.

The Economy Commission, in his opinion, had made grossly misleading statements as to the privileges of members, who were, in reality, as poor as Lazarus. Reference was made in the report to the cost of rail and steamer passes, but that was really a bookkeeping entry between departments, though members on the average had to travel’4ooo miles per annum by motor and foot the bill. Meals at the Parliamentary restaurant cost more than in the city, and Bellamys had shown a substantial profit.

That, said the member, -was his reply to the commission’s suggestion that Parliament was an exclusive ’club in which members lived in the lap of luxury. The apparent loss on Bellamys was due to the whole of the cleaning expenses of Parliament buildings being charged to it. Members received a stamp allowance of £2 per month, but with most of them this did not pay their telephone bureau calls.