PAYMENT OF M.P.'S

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19144, 29 October 1927, Page 16

PAYMENT OF M.P.'S

NO SUPPORT FOR INCREASE PROPOSAL ILL-TIMED. Delegates at the annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce yesterday found an opportunity for humour in the discussion of a remit, proposed t>y the palinerston .Nort-ii Chamoer. That, body not being represented, -Mr J. ii. Kiohards (.otracioru; took charge of it. The remit was as follows: -That this conference disapproves of the suggested increase of salaries of memuers ot Parliament, .is being most inopportune owing to the present linanciai stringency in the Dominion." lie said that this was not tlie time lor increases in costs. There was no lack of competition for positions. (Laughter.) This may have been the result of unemployment. The present was not the time for such a proposal, it would be very unwise for the country to decrease the inducement for people to do something for nothing. Mr J. McLean (Greymouth) said the present was not a very opportune time for any increase in expenditure on Government institutions.

Mr W. J. Butler (Westland): Would tho mover be agreeable to a suggestion that this question should be submitted to tho Arbitration Court?

Mr W. J. Gilberd (Wanganui) suggested payment by results. Mr Richards said ho would not like it thought that he was suggesting that M.P.'s were not a pretty good body of menA Member's Expenses.

I Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland) said he was pleased it had been fcjt that the proposal was ill-timed—not that the members were not worth their pay. Flo had snoken to a member of Parliament in Wellington, and had said to him: "You ought to be able to live on £4oo a year "You don't imagine we get that?" had been the reply he had received. Tho M.P. had reminded him that election expenses were seldom less than £lso—one was lucky to get in - for that—and the distribution of this over throe years amounted to £SO per annum. Then there was at least £.50 a year in donations to football clubs and other sports bodies. Members whoso homes were not in Wellington were obliged to subsist there for five months of the year, and this cost at least £IOO, leaving £230 per annum for all other expenses. Mr Lunn said the Government might consider the question of paying .in allowance to members whose" homes were not in Wellington. A good number of the members had no other source of income, and ho would not like to see it entirelv a rich man's privilege. The. remit was adopted.