ALLOWANCES TO M.P.'S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 14

ALLOWANCES TO M.P.'S.

HEkW EXPENDITURE. BELLAMY'S AND HANSARD. SEVERE GUTS PROPOSED. TRAVELLING PRIVILEGES. [BX TELEGRAPH. —SrECJAL REPORTER."| "WBLLINOTON, Friday. In dealing with the need for a considerable reduction in the cost of running tlio Legislative Department, tlio commission shows that the annual appropriations in this respect have risen from £40,757 in the year 1914.-15 to £95,677 in 1931 32. It agrees with the opinion expressed by the Economy' Committee in 1921-22, and endorsed- by the Economy Committee in 1931. that, both Houses arc extravagantly staffed and thai the staffing arrangements would be made more efficient and could be placed on a less costly basis if placed under similar control to the rest of the Public Service as regards appointments and emoluments. The commission would place the economies on salaries oil a conservative basis at £6OOO. Some illuminating information is given on the expenditure in some of the sections of the Legislative Depaitnient. For instance, it "is shown that the number ot copies of Hansard printed during last year vas 7225 each of 22 weekly issues, making a total of 158.950 copies. Each member of Parliament is entitled to 75 copies, each member of the Legislative Council to 40 copies and each Minister of the Crown to 95 copies of e*ch issue. The commission recommends that the number of copies printed be reduced by one-half and the copies allowed to members of the Legislature reduced to a similar extent. The number of subscribers amounted to only 156 last year, and the proceeds totalled £lB9, as against the total cost of reporting and printing of nearly £12,000. It is difficult to state what the annual saving would be. but on last year's figures the sum of £ISOO would have been saved. "We consider that the expenditure in respect of. .Bellamy's is more than the country should be called upon to pay, as the institution is in the nature of a club, states the commission. "The total amount of the vote for Bellamy's for 1931-32 is £7950. but the total cost, as shown in the Income and Expenditure Account of the Legislative Department for 1930-31. was £10.355. exclusive of interest. Some of the staff, whose salaries are provided under this subdivision, are employed during the recess on general work in the Parliamentary Buildings, and an allowance of approximately £2OOO should be made on this account.

Fifty Per Cent. Reduction. "We have not been supplied with a statement of the accounts of Bellamy's, but presume that under the present system of managemeut the amount provided as a - charge against the Consolidated Fund each year is necessary to maintain the institiir tion. We recommend that the vote should be reduced by at least 50 per cent., 01 a saving of approximately £4OOO, and that the charges should be revised to provide for a greater part of the cost being met by those who. enjoy the privileges of Bellamy's." , It is estimated that a saving of £12,800 a year could be made if the railway travelling privileges enjoyed by members and ex-members of Parliament and their families were reduced. These concessions - with their-' cost areßailway passes and concessions to members and ex-meititeeis of the Legislature, families, relations, ' etc., £25,500; railway sleeping-berths for members of Parliament, £1250; railway lounge-car seats for members of Parliament, £25; railway sleeping-Jierths and lounge-car seats for members' wives, £175. "Members of the Legislature and their • -wives obtain free railway passes over all lines in New Zealand at- an annual cost ' of £92 10s each," continues the report. "The system of issuing free passes is an nnnecessary extravagance and should be abolished. In lieu thereof a warrant system should be introduced entitling members to free railway. travel on pioduction of orders signed by themselves. We recommend that members be- entitled to free tickets up to a value of not more than £SO in any one year. We can see no reason for the privilege of unlimited fiee railway travel. Privilege to Members' Wives. "In regard to the privilege extended to members' wives, Wfe are definitely of the opinion that unlimited free travel should be abolished. The privilege to members' wives, or, if a member has no wife to some relation acting as housekeeper, should be limited to three return tickets to Wellington each year. . Free railway passes- are also issued to exmembers who have had ten years' service or have served- in three Parliaments. » These passes are renewable on application.. We recommend that this privilege to ex-members be abolished. I 1 ice railway passes are also provided for such ex-members' wives for a period of one •year. This privilege should also be abolished. Free railway passes for life • have also been issued to the wives of Ministers in certain cases. We recommend that no further passes of this description' be issued. Finally, half cost of railway travel to and from Wellington for families of members of the Legislature is provided. The families of the members are entitled, to travel to and. from Wellington as often* as desired nt half rales. We recommend that this privilege be abolished." A further saving of £SOO is recommended in connection with other travelling expenses allowed to members. 1 hese ' include steamer and service car passages and other items. The passages of members of both Houses cost £1450 a year and those of members' wives, £2OO. Travel on Steamers.

"Members of the Legislature are entitled at any time to travel at tlio public expense between the port most, convenient of access to their lion.es and from any other port in New Zealand to enable them to conic to and return from Wellington," ecu I inues the, report. "We recommend that a delinilo limit be placed on the number of trips allowable 1o each member, ..siud suggest that a limit of eight return trips should be ample. Members are also entitled to receive tickets entitling them to travel by .-rrvie motorcar if theie, is no loasiin.-ibly convenient railway or .steamer service. We recommend a .similar limit of eight return trips in this ins'iance. The wives of South Island members (including a relation acting as housekeeper if the member has no . wife) are granted six return tickets (o and from Wellington. A limit, of three return tickets should he ample. Against this Hem are <it:-o chargeable travelling expenses at c 11r;itc of IRs per day and taxi fare\ etc., for members coming to Parliament or reluming home after the session.' Travelling allowance is payable for each day or part of a day on which ' members are travelling to Wellington or returning to their homes. We consider that in view of modern transport facilities, the payment of the allowance, should be confined to. cases where the period of travelling exceeds 24 hours, and that in other cases' actual and reasonable expenses only should be paid." The report estimates that a saving of £32,890 could be effected in the cost of the Legislative Department, the remaining items being:—Printing of statutes, £3000; refund to Post Office for members' telegrams. £600: charge for recess .library privileges, £400; postage and telegrams, £200; supply of publications, * £225; and miscellaneous savings, £3645.