TREAT ’EM ROUGH

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 4

TREAT ’EM ROUGH

"piIE enlargement of the constituencies through the rearrangement of the boundaries has thrown upon most members of Parliament the duty of travelling over longer distances. This is a fatiguing occupation at any time for men who arc past their youthful prime; but when as to-day travel is not convenient the strain is increased. Any man who works as hard as does the average member ot Parliament should be in receipt oi' an income exceeding the £5OO salary and the £250 expenses now bestowed on him by a thankful public. The announcement, that, each member of Parliament will be accorded free air travel in New Zealand has occasioned the comment that this is an addition to the member’s income not contemplated when the £250 expense allowance was made (by the members themselves). Whether this is so or not need not now be pressed; but it is to be observed that an allowance of £250 per annum for travelling expenses is none to liberal under to-day’s conditions. Even with travelling fares paid it is an easy task for a man away from home to spend £2 daily in legitimate expenses which means that the existing allowance permits of 125 days absence from home during the year. As the Parliamentary session outruns these days by a wide margin the allowance is still a modest contribution to the member’s out-of-pocket expenses. Why should the publie expect to receive an efficient Parliament on a skimpy allowance to members of Parliament. Such an expectation is hardly likely to be fulfilled in these days of uncertainty and high costs.