MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR SALARIES.

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 3

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND THEIR SALARIES.

To the Editor. Sir, —There appears to be complete agreement among the members of the three political parties regarding the need for an increase in salaries from £450 to £650 or more a year. I think, too, that it will be conceded by all reasonably minded critics that an adequate salary should be given to meet the requirements of all those who are appointed by the votes of the people to carry out the duties of governing the country. It seems to me that before salaries can be readjusted in a satisfactory manner to all concerned, there is a matter of still greater importance which should be settled. There should be no service in the. community so dignified as that of a politician; no position should command such respect from the people as that of a member of the House of Representatives. The work, too, should absorb all the time of a member for twelve months in the year in order to do it well. And if this latter condition could be fulfilled, I have reason to believe that no one would grudge an increase consistent with, the quality of services rendered. Now let us look at the existing arrangement as it applies to all the party members with comparatively few exceptions. In nearly every case, Reform, Liberal and Labour, they regard their parliamentary duties more in the form of a side-line. First of all, they are farmers, merchants, land and property owners, financial and commission agents, newspaper proprietors, squatters, directors, and trade union secretaries. One can readily see the difficulties that stand in the way of establishing a political career as one demanding the whole time of a member. Yet before a big salary can be given, some safeguard must be considered in the interests of the people; or we may discover that private interests are being subsidized by any other course. Parliament to-day does not require the close attention of members for more than six or seven months a year. During the recess the government, of the country is maintained by Cabinet Ministers who are receiving adequate remuneration for their work.

I think it is not beyond the wit of man to devise a scheme whereby a private member may have duties during the recess consistent with his position within the bounds of his constituency. For instance, a centrally. situated office could be opened and a time-table issued when any elector could be sure of finding him and placing before him the nature of his business.

This arrangement would make him more accessible and bring him more into direct line with thc'life of his constituents. Without labouring the point indefinitely, it is clear that the work of a politician to-day is a loose encl; and before one can honourably support any increase in salary, the duties should be more clearly specified covering the whole period of the three years which is the life of Parliament, There is a, noticeable feature regarding a political career as distinct from nearly every other phase of life, that in spite of suggestions made by electors, or any views held by them, the members who are supposed to be the servants of the people, will presently sit and decide the size of their own salary. We should begin to be alarmed if such a procedure were applied to industrial and commercial departments.—l am, etc., M.A.B.