MP.-MORE PAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1203, 20 December 1928, Page 6

MP.- MORE PAY

Members Want' Increased Remuneration AND THEY SHOULD GET IT Parliamentarians have risen with the lark m their endeavor to bring about an increase m their salarybeg pardon— honoraria. The House barely got into its stride before a meeting of members of % all sections, was held to discuss the subject.

MEMBERS this time have taken the bull by the horns and suggest an increase of from £450 to £700 a year. Apparently they look for precedent to the Australian Parliaments, where salaries range from £ 750 to £1000. The last session saw the matter being thrashed out, with no result, but Sir Joseph Ward has stated that legislation on the subject would be introduced next 'session. He tol.d a deputation of members, a few days ago that he was m favor of higher salaries. That an increase m Members' Salaries' is bound to come there can be no doubt, and the public must realize that a parsimonious attitude m regard to the country's legislators will not redound to credit of New Zealand. The meagre salary which at present is ladled out to members is poor recompense for the time they devote to the country's affairs. Nor, -while the present rate of pay exists, will many efficient and capable business men — men who could best serve the people — be induced to interest themselves sufficiently m national affairs to seek election. No man with any pretension to business and financial success will be prepared to place his business affairs m the hands of subordinates while he

spends time on the onerous and underpaid duties of a Parliamentarian. For three or four months every year a Member must give his undivided attention to the business of the House m session, and the rest of the year he is generally at the beck and call of every member of his constituency. He must investigate complaints, petition for this, that and the other thing, and make himself generally popular. Otherwise his chances of a return to the House for a further three years are meagre. Not every Member of Parliament has a private income or business. Some are wholly reliant on their "honoraria" to carry on. Heavy expenses are entailed iri the thankless task of touring the country. Party funds are not for the purpose of supporting private Members during times of stress. : The matter resolves into the question whether the root reason to the objection of ari increase is dislike of the. ■word "professionalism." The objectionable noun has crept into everything, but common usage as applied to Parliamentarians will remove most of its obnoxiousness. All men are worthy of their hire, and procrastination will not long delay the inevitable and legitimate increase that is due to our Members. 7