LEGISLATORS' BETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21332, 5 November 1932, Page 16

LEGISLATORS' BETS

; USE OF TELEPHONES ' RINGING FROM CANBERRA Speaking on the Estimates in the Australian House of Representatives in Canberra recently, Mr. Gabb, a South Australian member, said that the cost of telephones. in Parliament House, Canberra, had increased from £622 in 1926-27 to £1219 in 1931-32. The average cost of the telephones in the House for five years had been £763. That did not include the telephone accounts of Ministers. He knew that it had been a practice of members of the previous Parliament to telephone the State capitals to back horses after the attendant had left the-switchboard on Fridays. Was it right that the taxpayers should have trunk lines occupied while members used them to mako bets ? He was not talking from hearsay, for he had witnessed such a practice. Mr. Rosevear (New South Wales): Did thev back any winners ? That is the main thing. Mr. Gabb (indignantly): No, it is not. The main thing is to see that the taxpayers get a fair deal. Some members, Mr. Gabb said, telephoned their relatives every day. Mr. Lane (New South Wales) : They have to pay for it. Mr. Gabb: No, they do not. Mr. Lane: I do. Mr. Gabb: If they ring on the three days when the House is sitting they have to pay, and they do so with their "on service" stamps. It is different when the switchboard attendant is not on duty. Because they are members of Parliament they /are not entitled to speak to relatives at the expense of the taxpayers. Mr. Gabb also protested against the cost of conducting the refreshment rooms at Parliament House. These rooms, he said, were losing about £4OOO a year, while two Government hotels near Parliament House were also losing heavily.