FEDERAL MEMBERS' SALARIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19968, 7 June 1920, Page 2

FEDERAL MEMBERS' SALARIES.

GRAB AN EXTRA £4OO, UNCONSCIOUS HUMOUR, Tn the Federal Rouse of Representatives on. May 10 Mr Hughes introduced the Parliamentary Allowances Bill—the little Bill that was designed to increase the salaries of members from £3CO to £IOOO (says the Svdnev " Sun ”). It did more than that—it gave the leader of the Opposition an extra £4o') —for. contrary to the general belief, Mr Tudor gets no extra allowance as leader. The Opposition leader in the Senate gets an extra £2OO, and the allowance for Ministers, in addition to their Ministerial pay. is increased to £SOO. Mr Hughes traversed old ground in speaking on^ tho second reading. He raid the majority in favour of the resolution passed in the House and the changes in circumstances justified the increase. This was not a Government, .cndcertainly not a party, measure. Wherein Mr Hughes spoko truth-.--tiler© has seldom been seen so unanimous a House. Members were free to express their opinion—free even to move for a. reduction. [ t. v os the right and duty of Parliament to do this thing—it was the only body that could do so,. He referred to similar action taken in other Parliaments, and in the Commonwealth Parliament in 1007. ‘•'Parliament.” he said, “ is neither to bo overawed by mobs nor by the Press. A Prime Minister is entitled to hj calory which would bear some comparison with that of the- manager of one of the departments of some of tho great wholesale establishments.” AN AWFUL EXAMPLE. Should it be referred to the people as a referendum? Mr Hughes gave an awful example of such a referendum’ is fate in South Africa, where the legislators, who got only £2OO, asked [or an increase of £loo‘. The people lunieci it, down by two to one. The House almost shuddered. Kveiy member ought to bo absolutely independent, went on Mr Hughes- her those with only their salaries an adequate salary Vaa a I matter of life or death. The usual references to the Press and “Pro'Bono Pubbco’s ” letters to the papers followed- , Mr Tudor believed the Bill was * right, step. Mr M’Williams (Tag.) opposed it. Uio proper thing was to bring Iho Bill down in the last cession of a Parliament. Many members ’ spoke, but there was no interest in the betting—the numbers were up. iho Opposition saluted anv member who opposed tho increase 'with tho question; ‘‘Will you take it?” Of course they would take it. But they refused to swallow the insult—the £4OO insult—m silence. Every member had to explain himself to nis constituents in “ Hansard.’ ' Every member had to clear his conscience. •’SOStETHLN'G BEHIND!” But when late in the evening Mr Gahli 0-.. A.), the wowser ami almost the Uhniau of his party, began to import into the debate iihputations and jibes, surely foreign to this convivial and comparatively unanimous meeting, the HoXise tiercelv , showered interjections upon him. This self-righteous member had found that £l2 a week was sufficient for him. He implied that the Government had held out this increase to tne Labour Party as a bribe. Mr riueakor was quick to pull Mil wabb up for imputing unwort-hv mo. lives. Whereupon Mr Gabb went and did it again—only worse. He suggested that there wa s something behind ibis incrcase"to a, party that the Government had termed Sinn Feiners and disloyalists. Mr Speaker sharply told him he was cn-vtuig a, very odious rofleHion, arid Mr Lomond fN.SAV.) moved that the ivords of Mr Gabb should be recorded, as ,vtcb language was a'very serious matter. .Mr Mahoner (N.S.W.), of bis own parly, remarked contemptuously of I*r Gabb, “ Ho doesn’t know anv better. Let him go.” And the Speaker warned him that he must continue his tpcech on more rational lines. The heavy periods of Mr Makin bS.A.<. who proclaimed himself a. man of principle, ami who accused Mr Gabb of undercutting bis union mates, were a relief after-Mr Gabb* hectic and virulent For himself. Mr Makin fcoult? accept the increase—and its responsibilities. PREPARED TO SUFFER. Midnight came, and the House reconciled itself to an all-night sitting, hj or with the. dawn would ■ come the great reward. 1,. was Mr Maxwell (Vic.) whdse legal tones exposed the hypocrisy; ofthe debate. Their masters, he claimed. uad bad no say in this matter. " Talk about defending criminals. I’ve beard more special pleading to-night Ilian in the whole course of mv experience at the Bar,” be declared. “ IX was quite touching to see the breathless way the Opposition hung on the lip* of the Prime Minister. There was perfect appoval on the part of the Opposition of all that the Prime Minister said From the way members talked one would think that the electors had been mining after them to get their services.” ” Tbe.v do after me!” exclaimed Mr West (N.S.W.) .Mr Parker Moloney (N.S.W.), whose aim was to make the lot of the worker a little happier and a little brighter, discussed bis conscience—at half-past, one—at considerable length. Even Mr Moloney’s words could not describe the attitude of those members who were to vote against what, they termed ‘ a- grab,” and yet were' going to take the money. He likened those members to receivers of stolen goods WHY QUESTION MOTIVES? “Why these personalities? Why question anv member’s motives?” plaintively asked Mr Fleming (N.S.W.), He supported the Bill. Mr Stewart (Vic.) was against the increase. because all sections of the community should make sacrifices in the cause of economy, and Parliament’s example was going to make the discontented sections of the community more discontented. “So it should,” said the gentle Mr Considine, from Broken Hill. Mr Matthews’ (Vic.) opinion of the. Melbourne “ Ago ”■ was almost too deep for words, though he utilised most, of the adjectives of contempt and contumely in his vocabulary in describing the Melbourne paper. By 3 a.m. the' solitary occupant np the strangers’ gallery was a policeman on duty; but in the Speaker’s gallery was Mrs T. J. Ryan. She is one of the most frequent visitors to the House, but tin’s was her first experience of a late sitting. Mr Ryan had been present throughout the debate, and bad not spoken. Mr Francis (Vic.) was prepared lc> Vote against the Bill. " Arid he’s praying to God that it will be carried!” a Labourite interjected., "SPECIALLY RECOMMENDED,’’ M:r Ryan (N.S.W.) at last gav© utterance to his opinions. He mad© a new ipoint when lie pointed out tbit) Bill had ( been introduced by a Governor’s message.- The Governor-General had thus specially recommended it to the House. Payment of members was a principle of democracy. What was an adequate salary was a question for the House to decide. Parliament cost him his full salary, but he had his pro-, fession outside. Was there any member who could sav that the proposed salary was 100 much for the position at

a- member of Parliament. ? . He sup ported the Bill.

Though members had expressed their contempt of the Press all the nigh*. ■mmS momenl: ' early edition of the Alelbourne papers reached the Chamber, there was a rush' to read the editorial criticisms.

ihr Mar; ('NAS.'W.'J. in a good-hu-moured speech, said that he hod done lus best to consult his constituents on the subject. fie had managed to find lire a.nr they were all favourable inwards the increased salary. The live were all piemhers of the House who happened to reside in his constituency. In comipjttee a new clause was inrv iTw? ™°. tion of Mr Lamond • ’ 1 • Providing if < the increased salary was not .claimed by a, member for three months, the monev would revert to the Treasury. The Bill had passed through all its stages aby 3.15 a.m.