M.P'S SALARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 55, 2 September 1944, Page 8

M.PS SALARIES

TAX-FREE SUGGESTION

If it were not possible to raise the honorarium of members of Parliament so as to riiake it adequate, then at least the remuneration should be tax free, said Mr. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru), speaking in the debate on the annual taxing Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. Carr said that a recommendation of that nature had been made in one of the Empire countries recently. He quoted an editorial published by the newpaper in his electorate which expressed the opinion that adequate remuneration for members of Parliament was long overdue. There had been a sting in the tail of the- editorial, however, to the effect that if members were paid more it might be possible to get better members of Parliament. 'Mr. Carr added that members did not enter Parliament to make money but to serve the people. Nevertheless, the labourer was worthy of his hire. Mr. W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato), who followed Mr. Carr in the debate, said he hoped that he would never be asked to agree to a remission of taxation on members' remuneration. He thought such a proposal was definitely wrong, but he would agree with Mr. Carr that members were seriously underpaid. Mr. Carr: What difference does At make? The principle was definitely wrong, replied Mr. Goosman. If members of Parliament should receive -more there was one way of doing it and that was by paying them more. The only basis for the payment of income tax w,as that one had income.