OWN SALARIES RAISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 11

OWN SALARIES RAISED.

NEW SOUTH WALES LABOUR.

MR. SAVAGE IN DEFENCE

"OTHER PARTIES' APPROVAL."

WHAT THE FACTS REVEAL,

"Can the candidate give any explanation of the fact that Ministers' and members' salaries in the New South Wales Parliament, under a Labour Government, were almost doubled recently," was a question put to Mr. M. J. Savage on Saturday evening.

Mr. Savage said he could, as he was instrumental in sending an urgent cablegram to the Premier, Mr. ,T. T. Lang, inquiring on behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party what was to be said. Mr. Lang replied < that the increase was granted with the full approval of all parties.

Labour had not gone into the House ; with a majority and pushed the measure through, Mr. Savage said. It was entirely a misconception to believe that Labour had brought in the bill for their own benefit. Decision of Labour Caucus. f What the Premier of New South Wales means by the "full approval of all parties" is difficult to understand, in view of the fact that the passage of the Members' Salaries Bill was opposed at all stages in the 'Legislative Assembly, which corresponds to the House of Repre- | sentatives in New Zealand. The Opposition pressed for divisions at the first, | second and third readings, but was de- I feated on each occasion. When the Labour Party was previously in office it was responsible for increasing members' salaries from £6OO to £375. Sir John Fuller's Liberal Government reduced them to £6OO. On the return of the Labour Party to power, immediate steps were taken to restore salaries to their previous level. At a caucus held on September 18, it was decided to raise salaries to the former figure of £875, the emoluments of Ministerial and other official posts also to be raised substantially. Very little time lapsed before the de cision of the Labour caucus was embodied in a bill, which was brought before Parliament on September 30 last, only 12 days after the caucus, reached its decision. Although it is not usual to oppose the introduction of a bill, the Opposition challenged this measure, and it was not read a first time until a division had gone in the Government's favour by 45 votes to 27. Raid by "Hungry Wolves. M The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bavin, spoke against the measure, and included in his speech was the following unqualified condemnation: —"The step this House is about to take is a step that will degrade Parliament. It will bring odium and disgrace on Parliament. Members must realise that they are passing a law to take money out of the public Treasury to put into their own pockets. To do that they ought to have the sanction of the people first." Mr. Bavin also protested strongly against the Premier's introducing such a measure without having sought the apj proval of the electors. During the election | there was no suggestion that this bill I would be introduced. . | Other Opposition members spoke strongly against the bill, one remarking i that the Labour members were like a I pack of hungry wolves in their raid on i the Treasury. ; The second reading of the bill came i on the next day, an indication of the i Labour Government's haste to pass it into ■ law. It was again fought sternly by the 1 Opposition, and finally the debate had to be adjourned. It was resumed on October 6 and was again contested step by step. A division had to be taken on the motion . for the second reading, which was carried by 50 votes to 28. Passage of Bill Forced. The committee stage was next taken when the Leader of the Opposition opposed making the increases retrospective to July 1. His amendment was defeated by 46 votes to 29. A further amendment to : make the salaries £SOO instead of £875 was defeated on the voices, and the bill was carried through committee. Still using its policy of pressure, the Government brought on the third reading the next day, October 7. The Opposition took this last chance of fighting the measure, but an amendment against making the bill retrospective was negatived. Such, briefly, is the story of the stormy passage of the Members' Salaries Bill through the New South Wales Assembly. Against these facts there is the Labour Premier's statement in reply to Mr. Savage that "the increase was granted with the full approval of all parties." ROTORUA NATIONALIST. VOTE FOR MR. HOLLAND. [BY telegraph. —own correspondent.] OPOTIKI. Saturday. Speaking at Opotiki the Nationalis.. candidate for Rotorua, Mr. C. H. Clinki ard, said that if Mr. Holland moved ! a no-confidence motion with a clear-cut ; j issue he would vote against the Reform Government as at present constituted.