N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1933, Page 5

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

DEBATE IN HOUSE

OPPOSITION LEADER’S SALARY.

(Per Press Association— Copyright).

WELLINGTON, December 20.

In the House of Representatives last night JMr J. A. Lee’s amendment to the second reading of the Finance Bill (No. 2) was defeated by 42 votes to 14 and the Bill was read a second time.

Opposition was raised by Labour members during the committee stage to the clause renewing authority Tor racing clubs to deduct ten per cent of the totalisator duty.

Mr It. A. Wrjglit (G., Wellington Suburbs), divided the House on the clause which was retained by 40 votes to 17.

Two Labour members, Messrs P. C. Webb (Buller) and F. Jones (Dunedin South), voted for it. Speaking on the clause granting an additional allowance of £l6O per annum to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr A. J. Murdoch (G., Marsden), said he believed the time wa s not opportune for extending to any Member of parliament more money than he wits now : receiving, and there should be no extension until such time as the public servants’ salaries could bo increased. Ho agreed that Members of iParliament were noi receiving a sum; commensurate with the amount of (work they had to do, and he also considered the Leader of the Opposition was entitled to a slim sufficient to pay his expenses throughout the year, but he repeated the time was inopportune. Mr P. Fraser (Labi, Wellington appointed out- that the Leader of the Opposition, himself, would not obtain one penny piece of additional allowance, which together with the sessional allowance would cover a portion of the secretarial expenses attached to his onerous duties.

Mr R. Semple (Ljab., Wellington E.), expressed the opinion that the amount provided in the Bill was altogether inadequate. “As for the honoraria of members,” lie said; “the time will come when Members will be courageous enough to tell New Zealand they are underpaid.”

Mr F. Lye (G., Waikato)), congratulated the Government on what he described as the long overdue recognition of the legitimate claims of the Leader of the Opposition. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central), said he would rather have seen the clause deleted than brought up in the manner in which it had been. Mr Savage: “Yes. So would I.” The Hon. J. G. Coates: “We will not take it out.”

Mr Savage: “I would rather see it kicked out-.”

Mr Coates: "No. The arrangement has been made with Mr Savage.” The Government had brought the clause down, because, it considered it legitimate and justified, and it intended to pass it. Mr Murdoch assured the House there had been no spleen in his remarks. The clause was passed amidst a loud chorus of “ayes.”

Progress was /reported, the House rising at 2.35 o’clock until 10 o’clock this morning.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

' WELLINGTON, December 20. Keplying to the second reading of the debate on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives, the Government had decided to modify the privision for the limitation of liability, of emploj -ms for the payment of workers’ oornnensation for accidents due to earthquakes, by introducing an amendment, setting out that, in case of one disaster, ox a series of disasters, occurring wihin seven days, the insurance companies, and those they indemui v . will not be liable.for more that £50.1 000.

Mr Coates decided lie would, next session introduce the Workers Compensation Amendment Bill, and afford an opportunity for the whole question to be completely thrashed out. He expressed the opinion that the insurance