SALARIES RAISED

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 7

SALARIES RAISED

FEDERAL MEMBERS REPLY TO NEWSPAPER CRITICISM ACTION DEFENDED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 10.35 p.m.) Canberra, October 26. In the House of Representatives today Mr Barnard Corser on a question of privilege attacked the Sydney Sunday Sun following its trenchant criticism of members of Parliament for increasing their own salaries. He declared that the paper’s comment was malicious and unscrupulous and asked the House to declare the printer and the publisher guilty of contempt. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, defended the Government’s action in increasing salaries, and deprecated the action of newspapers in all the States in engendering suspicion in the public mind, reflecting on the integrity of members and attempting to destroy public confidence in its elected representatives. He repudiated the suggestion that salaries were raised by back-door methods, and said the whole thing was done in the light of day and was distinct from the Budget because it did not involve a matter of policy. He -felt that members of Parliament were entitled to a partial restoration of the salary cuts which they voluntarily imposed during the depression just as other sections of the community were thus favoured.

Mr Corser’s motion asking the House to declare the printer and the publisher guilty of contempt was carried unanimously. A copy of this resolution is to be sent to the Sunday Sun. SENATE PASSES MEASURE. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Canberra, October 26. In the early hours of the morning the Senate by 19 votes to 9 passed the measure increasing the salaries of Federal members by £75 a year. NEW BASIC WAGE REDUCTION NOT BEING APPLIED. SYDNEY BUSINESS FIRMS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Sydney, October 26. By a unanimous vote the Water Board has decided not to apply the basic wage cut to its employees. The City Council is unlikely to apply the reduction to its staffs. Another six Sydney firms have announced that they will not reduce the wages of their staffs.