The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 PENSIONS FOR POLITICIANS

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 2 September 1913, Page 2

The Te Puke Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 PENSIONS FOR POLITICIANS

A deputation composed of several members of .Parliament.waited upon the prime Minister a few days ago, and urged that steps should be taken to provide old age pensions for members of Parliament, who had served the country for a given number cf years. It was suggested that any legislation dealing with the matter should be made retrospective. Mr Masscy expressed himself as sympathetic to the proposal, so that in all probability we shall hear more of the matter at no distant date. While it may be right and proper that men like Messrs Frank Lawry and A. W. Hogg (ex-members for Parnell and respectively), who sat for twenty consecutive years and more in Parliament, and did good work while there, should be made a yearly allowance from the public purse, we are not so sure that a universal pension for exmembers of Parliament t based on a given number of years service, would make for the country's good. It is quite conceivable that once a man got into Parliament he would by hook or crook, by every possible means in fact, try to stay there sufficiently long to qualify for a pension. The fewer political trimmers and opportunists we have in Parliament the better for the welfare of the country. The pension question is certainly one of considerable importance, and will equire to be carefully considered from many points of view. Details of the proposal will be awaited with interest, and will without doubt be closely scrutinised by electors the Dominion. Of that fact our legislators may rest assured.