MEMBERS’ SALARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 September 1927, Page 4

MEMBERS’ SALARIES

MOVEMENT EOT? INCREASE. (‘ -Lyttelton Times” Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 7. An organised and fairly widespread movemnet is on foot among members of the House of Representatives to induce tlie Government to consider the question of increasing their Parliamentary honorarium. Nominally it is £SOO, but when cuts were made in public service salaries during a former depression the House accepted the s.nno fate for itself and salaries went down to £450. However this is considered too small in view of tbe fact that it generally is admitted that n Member of Parliament can find no time effectively to earn an income from any other source, his full energies being usually spent in public business. Living expenses in Wellington are heavy, and during this winter calls on members for private help where constituents have been out of employment meant in most eases a heavy drain on .slender resources.

The question was raised privately with the Government last session, a deputation of members consulting the Primo Minister regarding the position. No developments followed and an effort is being made to bring tho matter to a head before this session ends. A committee has been set up to consider proposals which will be placed before the Prime Minister.