FAY OF MINISTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13954, 14 July 1909, Page 7

FAY OF MINISTERS.

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." J.Skj:—We Lear a great deal about retrenchment and the great need there is for it. The Ministry are said to be determined to effect great economies, and are doing it, they say/ with consideration.. so as to cause as little hardship as possible. The general public would put far Greater faith in the members of the Ministry if they showed their genuineness in the retrenchment policy by cutting down their own salaries and allowances. It would be very instructive if you were to publish the salaries and allowances received for the last year by the various Ministers. It is said that the fact of the Hon. Thomas McKenzie being a Minister,without salary is evidence of the desire of the Cabinet to limit expenditure. But although the Hon. Mr McKenzie has 110 Ministerial salary," does he not get an allowance of 30s in addition to his travelling expenses every day he is absent from Wellington ? I understand he deprs. Since his appointment he has snent very little time in Wellington, which means that he draws £'lo ]os a. week, besides his £3OO member's honorarium and his'travelling expenses. A very fair salary iu all.—T am. etc..

' RETRENCHMENT. [The Civil List Account for 1908-9 gives the amount of salary and house allowance of each Minister, but not the amount of travelling allowance, :>nd this does not appear in the published Abstract of Revenue and Expenditure. Probably a return will he given to Parliament next session. Ministers travelling on public service are entitled to an allowance exceeding 30s per dav."—Ed. "T.H.I