SALARY REVISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22687, 27 March 1937, Page 12

SALARY REVISION

BRITISH BILL MEMBERS OF CABINET PRIME MINISTER'S POST STATUTORY RECOGNITION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 'JO, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, March 25 The main purposes of the Ministers of the Crown Bill are, first, the removal of certain anomalies in the present standing of Ministers by adjustments and alterations in their salaries; and secondly, the revision of the existing rules as to the allocation of the Ministers between the two Houses of Parliament. The bill provides that all Ministers of Cabinet rank should each receive a salary of £SOOO a year. It is proposed to give statutory recognition to the existence of tho position of Prime Minister by providing a salary of £IO.OOO a year. The bill further proposes that there should be a pension of £2OOO a year to persons who have been Prime Minister.

An innovation is the provision for the payment of an annual salary of £2OOO to the Leader of the Opposition. The bill further provides that the salary of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to a Minister receiving £SOOO a year will be £ISOO. and where the salary of the Minister is £3OOO, the salary of the Under-Secretarv will bo £I2OO.

The increased cost of the proposals will be £37,000 a year. The bill proposes to abolish the distinction between the office of Secretary of State and other offices which carry Cabinet rank.