INCREASE IN SALARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20407, 8 November 1929, Page 12

INCREASE IN SALARY.

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATION ANTICIPATED.

SUM OF £IOO MENTIONED.

" A DEGREE OF UNANIMITY."

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAI, REI'ORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday.

Confident predictions are being made in the Parliamentary lobbies that the Appropriation Bill, which will be introduced into the House of Representatives on tho eve of the close of the session, will contain a clauso increasing the salaries of members of Parliament by £IOO.

Members at present receive an honorarium of £460 a year and the movement to have this increased to bring it moro into lino with that paid Parliamentarians in other parts of the Empire has been tho subject of negotiation for several sessions

During the brief session last year a deputation representative of the three parties in the House approached the Frime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, on the subject and it was reported at the time that Sir Joseph Ward had promised to give tho representations every consideration.

The strong point members have made in their aitvocacy for better salaries is that tho calls on their resources are very numerous and that during the session they are faced with the necessity of keeping two homes going. The barriers to an increase being granted have been stated to bo the position of the country's finances and the fact that members of the Civil Service would expect restoration of the 1922 salary "cuts" if Parliamentarians were granted an increase. The subject was an issue in some constituencies during the election campaign and several candidates, some of whom were elected, indicated publicly that while they considered members were inadequately paid they would oppose any increase at present.

It is now reported that a degree of unanimity has been reached between tho parties and that as a result a clause providing for what may be given the description of a. "bonus," subject to annual review, will be included in the Appropriation Bill. Although there may be no opposition when tho proposal is presented some members are apprehensive of the reception tho proposed increase will receive in tho country, owing to tho increases that have been made in taxation

to balance the national ledger and the fact that the Government i;puld not see its way lo give the immediati J relief sought by tho public servants, whotp claims were fought out on the floor of lithe House as recently as on Monday last. Hit is thought that on the display of material opposition in the House to the proposed increase the Government will not hesitafe to drop the clause. t HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, NO INCREASES THIS YEAR. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. There has been no increase in the salaries of the heads of departments this year, according to a statement made by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, in the House this evening. During the discussion on the Supplementary Estimates of the Department of Justice, Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform —Palmerston) asked whether provision had been made for an increase in the salary of the Commissioner of Police.

"I quite agree that the salary of the commissioner requires reviewing," replied Mr. Wilford. "I stated so on the main Estimates and I am still of that opinion. The policy of the Government this year, however, is not to increase the salaries of the top men. The commissioner, therefore, will have to wait."

Mr. F. Langstone (Labour —Waimarino) : He is not doing so badly. Mr. Wilford said it was impossible to increase the salary of the head of one department without increasing the lot. Mr. Langstone: They don't want it.