COST OF TALK.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18283, 21 March 1931, Page 9

COST OF TALK.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Last week I read in your paper a sub-leader on “Parliament" whore you stated that- it cost IMUO per day when in session, and advocating cutting the cost down by shorter speeches and getting down to business. This is a good bit short of the figure. In a discussion in the House some two' sessions ago it was stated that it cost “£9O per hour" when in session; so the taxpayer has the satisfaction of knowing that every time a member gets up and starts to abuse other members, thd Government, reading pamphlets and talking a lot of nothing for one hour the tax r payer who has to foot the bill can say “Bang goes another £90.” You read In the papws the following headlines. "Dreary Debate Still Drags On,” “Dull Day in the House," "Little Progress Made," "Eleven More Members Still to Speak," and if this goes on for a week say for five days at seven hours per day, equalling 35 hours, then the taxpayer- can say: “There goes another £3lso—gone west in gas." The average session lasts five v month's. All the work could be done In one month so we get 16 weeks (at £3150 per week) talking for which the taxpayer has to fork out £50,400. At £4 per week that amount would find work for 1575 men for eight weeks which if spent on work that was going to increase the exports of New' Zealand, would be of great assistance at the present time. Members of Parliament should remember (1) that New Zealand should come first, Treasury benches second; (2) that the world depression has also affected New Zealand; (3) unemployment is very serious and is getting worse with Influx from overseas; (4) New Zealand has been recently plunged into mourning and sadness with the disastrous earthquake in Hawke’s Bay which spelt absolute ruination to thousands. Still the same old party political nonsense goes on. The taxpayer has in- the ' past when times were prosperous prepared to grin and bear it, but now members should have a little consideration for the over-burdened taxpayer and perhaps later on when things get back to normal they could then carry on with their little five months’ talkie-talk annually in Well- ■ ington until such limes as party politics in a young undeveloped country are relegated to the background as obsolete.—l am, etc., ALGEBRA.