MINISTERS’ SALARIES NOT LARGE ENOUGH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18496, 23 June 1928, Page 2

MINISTERS’ SALARIES NOT LARGE ENOUGH.

INQUIRY INTO SPEAKER’S STIPEND REQUESTED. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) * (Received June 23, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, June 22. Mr William Graham, Labour member of Parliament and ex-Minister, who is chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, a. Parliamentary body which keeps a close watch upon departmental expenditure, has put down a motion on behalf of the Labour Party asking for an inquiry into the “ emoluments and expenses attaching to the office of Speaker.” Mr Graham’s view, which is shared by most members of the House, is that the salary of the Speaker, which has remained fixed since 1895 at £SOOO a year, is now inadequate in view of the expenses attached to the post. The cost of the official hospitality he must offer is alone about £ISOO.

It is regarded as possible that the scope of a committee, representative of the whole House, which would consider the matter, may be extended to include the question of salaries paid to Ministers. It is notorious that many of these are inadequate, the experience of successive Prime Ministers having been that the financial calls made upon them far exceed the annual £SOOO received Taxes alone on that amount are over £IOOO. Ministerial salaries; generally vary from £2OOO to £SOOO, with the exception of legal posts, which are more remunerative —British Official Wireless.