MEMBERS' PAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 8

MEMBERS' PAY

PROPOSAL TO INCREASE

RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE

NOT A LIVING WAGE

A motion expressing the opinion. of the House of Representatives that the honorarium ul members should be raised was submitted to the House yesterday by the I'riine .Minister.

Mr. Massey moved: "That this House desires to express its opinion that the present honorarium of members of Parliament is quite insufficient to enable them to live in reasonable comfort, and is not commensurate with their legislative responsibilities. This House therefore recommends the next Parliament to lake this subject into consideration, with a view lo making more satisfactory provisidn for the salaries of its members, and enabling a superannuation scheme to lie established, so that men who have given many years of service to the f-tate mav not find themselves' in the evening of life insufficiently provided' for."

Mr. Massey said that the motion was the outcome of si numerous deputation that waited uiiou him some little time ago to present a "Round Kobin" signed by between sixty and seventy members, indicating practically what he had set forth in the motion. They expressed the opinion, with which he agreed, that the present honorarium was quite disproportionate to the work that had to be done by every member of Parliament, and Disproportionate to the responsibilities of the position. Members knew rniito well, and he thought the people of the country also knew, that it was simply impossible for any member: of the House with a family to live on .£3OO a year. It was impossible for him to make provision for his declining years. If he should be a business man, ho'must. make a very beavv ?!tcrifi»c to come into the House. He thought it was time that members made up their minds that thi« sort of thing ought hot to be tolerated any longer. He thought the people of Hie country realised Hint their members of Parliament should be paid in the same w,iv as members of Parliament were paid in other parts of the TWtish Empire. He had h«ml it said that the honorarium of the New Zealand member was the lowe--t nam 1 to aw member in the British Kmnire. He knew that in Australia the «alarv was nt the rate nf from .ffiOO to .illlfl!) a year, in South Africa the salary was .£600; and in the British Parliament it was .(VW).

Sir .Tosruh Ward: In the United States il U I'inOfl. ~ Mr. Masscv said (hat it wo"ld "of he >ight. to place legislation on the Statute Bon'.- in the dying hours of whit would tvi flouti" come to be known ns the Lonir Parliament in New Zealand, mid it had been decided to leave the question of any possible increase to the new Parliament, lie die,' net think that the electors would take any exception to what was being promised. He thow-hf Uiey would ngre" that the member of the New Zealand Parliament should be as well paid for tlHr services as 111" members of any other Parliament. Something must b" donii. also, in (he way of provision of surariinnaiion for ex-members who, after long service of thei- country in Parliament, find themselves in poor circumstances in their declining years It was. well known to members that thore were men who had been for lonq; years members of the New Zealand House who were in this position to-day, and from time to time, quite rightly, he thought, sums had been voted for them on Hie Estimates. ' Superannuation should he prnvio'ed also to relieve from anxiety men who had been so lona. in politics, so long serving their constituents, that in the event of their retirement l.hev would have no chance of earning an' iiioome.

Sir Joseph Ward seconded the motion. He was quite satisfied, ho said, that members could not pay their way on the present honorarium. Members of tho ( present House were not nsked to sanction any additional payment to themselves. The motion was u recommendation to tho new Parliament, and it would go before the electors during the general election. The work of members of the House had grown enormously during recent'years, and tho tost of living had risen at the same time. There was no reason why the members of the New Zealand Parliament should be paid less than members .of other Parliaments within the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that the payment of an inadequate salary to members meant that men without private means rould not afford to servo the State.

Mr. H. E. Holland (Grey) told the House that ho would be quite content if he received as a member, over and above necessary electorato expenses, the average wage of the working ill an in his district. A member who did his full duty did not have, time to give to other occupations. He considered that members at present vore receiving a net wage far less than an ordinary tradesman's wage. Mr. I/. M. Isitt (Christc.hureh North) said a member of Parliament was put to much expense, and ho was expected to have his hand in his pocket all the time. Several of the best members of the Hoiiso were retiring this year because they could, not afford to stay in public life'. Members should discuss the position frankly with their constituents. It was not true that a member worked for the State only during the session. The electorate took most of his tfino during the recess. f Mr. .T. Payno (Grey Lynn) said ii< would be easy to fill tho House with members who would serve without any salary at,all. But these men would have their own axes to grind. ' M.r. C. Jl. Poole (Auckland West) said that the chief factor in inducing him In retire from political life at the end of the present session had been the impossibility of meeting his responsibilities to his family on tho present honorarium. The motion was agreed to.