MEMBERS' SALARIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 11

MEMBERS' SALARIES.

CUT STRONGLY OPPOSED.

HIGH TRAVELLING COSTS. HONORARIUM NOT ENOUGH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A vigorous protest against the proposal to subjccj, the salaries of members of Parliament to a further 10 per cent, cut was voiced in tlie House to-day by Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Government —Central Otago), who described his own electorate as the largest and most isolated in tho whole Dominion, 110 also attacked tho comments made by the National Expenditure Commission on members' privileges. It was apparent that Mr. Bodkin was expressing views which are widely shared by other members, and frequent "hear, hears ' marked his speech. Mr. Bodkin complained bitterly of the proposal to cut tho salaries of members, who, lie said, were the poorest paid servants of the State. Notwithstanding that fact, I hero was an impression abroad that a member of Parliament was in a sheltered class, living in tho lap of luxury and deriving all sorts of benefits and privileges at tho expenso of tho State. Ihoso beliefs had been aggravated by tho ridiculous and misleading report of tho Economy Commission. Drain on Private Income. Any man who represented a large and scattered electorate was forced to draw heavily upon his private income, if ho were to pay even his travelling expenses item, which the commissioners had totally misrepresented. Ho wondered if members of the commission realised that in order to get round an electorate, such as his, which was the largest in tho Dominion, one had to occupy 30 days, calling at thrcs centres every day and had to spend at least 20 nights away from home.

ft was impossible for the average Parliamentarian, even those living in Wellington, to make both ends meet from his honorarium, but when outside members were forced to spend nine months of the year in Wellington on the service of the State, as happened last year, without even the usual compensating expenses allowed an ordinary servant of a company, it placed them in an impossible position. The commission's reference to travelling expenses was the most paltry case ever placed on paper. Why was it that every member who gave his life and service to the State died as poor as Lazarus ? Efforts of Family.

If Parliamentarians of this country received the remuneration received by the members of the commission they would be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. One city member had tokl him that he was able to carry on his Parliamentary duties and attend sessions only because members of his family kept the home going while he was away. One found the commissioners gasping with indignation because members' wives had steamer and rail privileges, but these, in many cases, were merely book entries and never used. What about the thousands of miles of road which 80 per cent, of members had to travel and for which they received nothing, making a railway pass of very little value. If ever there was a gratuitous insult offered to members of Parliament, it was the section of the commission's report referring to Bellamys, which contained the dishonest and misleading statement t!lat gratuitous services were received there. No service in Bellamys was cheaper than the same service in the city. Some of them were dearer, and when the House was in session, Bellamys showed a handsome profit. Cleaning and other charges were debited against Bellamys, which bad nothing to do with members' privileges. " Rich Man's Policy."

As far as the stamp and telegraph allowance was concerned, the average telephone toll account would not be met with the £2 a month allowance given to members.

"Surely this country is not going to lay it down that only the rich man shall enter Parliament," asked Mr. Bodkin, "but this policy will bring that result about if the system is not altered. Many members will be driven out of Parliament bv sheer economic necessity.

"If such a system had always obtained, the giants of the past, Seddon. McKenzie and Massev would never have had the privilege of serving New Zealand as they did. The scene has changed and the distressing circumstances in which we live have made it impossible for members to live on their honoraria."