WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MORE PAY

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 6

During the second reading discussion of the Civil List Bill No 2. b'y which it is proposed to increase the salaries of members of Parliament, Mr Massey made it quite clear ho was preiiared to accept suggestions in regard to the amount of the increase. The proposal, contained in the Bill was an addition of £l5O to the £3OO a year now paid to members of the House, and an addition of £IOO to the £2OO paid to members of the Council, but the Prime Minister did not wish this to he accepted as the last word on the subject. Most of the members who took part in the discussion expressed an opinion favourable to a larger .amount, a,nd judging from the lobby gossip of the week-end a sug-t gestion to increase the amount to £SOO in the ease of members of the House, with some provision for superannuation ,is likely to be conveyed to the Government. A 'DELICATE POSITION. Of course any proposal for an increase must come from the Treasury benches, no private member being able to move an amendment involving an additional expenditure .of public money; but no doubt the House will find meiana of conveying to the Government the opinion of its members that they ought to have more pay. Then.it will for the Minister of Finance to give it to them. But during the discussion of members salaries the inadequacy of the Prime Minister's salary was mentioned more than once, and here Mr Massey will be in a somewhat .delicate position in giving effect to what is obviously the wish of the House. However, members of both the old parties were so emphatic in urging the office the Prime Minister holds should carry a higher salary, Mr Massey may. move in the matter quite impersonally. s

, PRIME MINISTER AND PROPHECY

The Prime Minister, by the way, appeared in a new role at the big meeting in the Town Hall last night to listen to Mr Israel Cohen’s exposition of the aims of the Zionist movement. Speaking in .advance of the main address, Mr Massey said that though he could not claim to be a student of the Scriptures, he had a deeply rooted faith in their inspiration, “I believe,” he said, that the prophecies contained .in the sacred writings will be fulfilled 'to the very letter. Prophecy is being fulfilled to-day, and I think you will agree with ,me that a very long step forward was taken when the troqps of the .Al-; lies, mostly British, captured Jerusa-. lam and took possession of Palestine.” The Minister-then went onto refer to' tlie significant fact that Palestine .and the greater .part .of Mesopotamia had been placed under the control of Britain, accepting, it would seem, the theory that the British people are the predicted successors to the “lost tribes.”

THE OPPOSITION. By common consent there was no discussion of the succession to the leadership of the Liberal Opposition during the week which was darkened by the death of the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald. It is understood, however, that a meeting of the Liberal members of the. House will be held this week for the purpose of considering the position. It i,s. being assumed that Mr T. M. Milford, who'acted as leader of the party in the House .during the absence of Mr MacDonald in Auckland just previous to his death, will be invited to take the position, but the-member for Hutt is a very busy professional man without any desire to give up the whole of his | time to politics, and it is quite pos- j siblc the duties of the office may he

discharged by a small committee for the rest of the session. That probably would servo all the purpose that need be served during the next {year or two.

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