ACTION DEFENDED

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1933, Page 5

ACTION DEFENDED

INCREASED MEMBERS’ SALARIES. FEDERAL PREMIER’S STATEMENT. (Australian Press. Association). CANBERRA, October 26. In the House of Representatives to-day, Mr Barnard Corsar, on a question of .privilege,' attacked the Sydney .“Sunday Sun,” following its trenchant criticism of the Federal JParliamentar.ians for increasing their own salar.es. He declared that the paper’s comment was malicious and unscrupulous. and lie asked the House to declare the, printer arid the publisher guilty of contempt. Mr J. A. Lyons, the Prime Alinister, defended., the Government’s action in i'ncreas ng the salaries of the members. He depreciated the action of newspapers in all states that were engendering a suspicion 'in mind reflecting on tlie integrity of the members of Parliament, and attempting to destroy the confidence of the public ill,their ejected representatives. He repudiated a suggestion that the. salaries Wore raised by hack door methods. The whole thing, he said, was done in the- light iff ‘lay. It was distinct from the Budget, because it involved, no matter or policy. Air Lyons said that he felt that the Members of Parliament were entitled to this partial restoration of the salary cuts which they voluntarily imposed on.themselves during the depression, just as other sections of the com niunity were thus being favoured. HOUSE ALLEGES CONTEMPT. (Received this clay at 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 27. Air Corsar’s motion asking the House to declare the printer and publisher guilty of contempt was carried unanimously. A copy of this will be sent to the “Sunday Sun.”