“SALARY GRAB”

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 5

“SALARY GRAB”

FEDERAL MEMBERS NEWSPAPER ATTACKS RESENTED ACTION DEMANDED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec 9.20 p.m.) Canberra, October 27. Criticism of the Sunday Sun and the Daily Sun was revived in the House of Representatives to-day on a matter of privilege. Mr Ward, a member of the Lang group, asked the House to deal with the printer and the publisher of Sun Newspapers Limited who were yesterday adjudged guilty of contempt. He moved accordingly, declaring that the Sun had aggravated the offence by publishing a sub-leader yesterday of the most offensive character, amounting to a challenge to Parliament. Mr R. A. Parkhill, the Acting Prime Minister, urged Mr Ward to withdraw his motion, promising that the Government would investigate the matter and ascertain who was actually responsible for the articles, possibly the directorate, and appropriate action would be taken at a later date. Mr Parkhill emphasized that the printer was apparently innocent as was also the writer of the article who was merely fulfilling instructions and often wrote against his own convictions. He added that the object of these publications was the pursuit of bowel-less commercialism, which characterized the whole history of the company. Mr Ward refused to withdraw his motion and the debate was adjourned. Some members also criticized the Bulletin and other newspapers. Protests from all over Australia are reaching Canberra regarding what is now termed the “salary grab.”

The Sun published trenchant criticism of the action of Federal members of Parliament in increasing their own salaries by £75 a year.