Samoan Inquiries Cost Good Sum

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 215, 30 November 1927, Page 12

Samoan Inquiries Cost Good Sum

LABOURITES AGITATED FEES OF A K.C. IE SL'.Y S V p ..... WELLINGTON. To-day The cost of the inquiry into the recent trouble in the mandated territory of Samoa has agitated the minds of members of Parliament, and objection was taken i n the House of Representatives last evening to the sum of £3.000 which was-placed on the Supple! mentary Estimates as a rough estimate of what the commission's visit to the islands would cost the country. “This is ouly a rough cost,*’ explained the Hon. W. Xosworthy, “be- ; cause detailed amounts have not been made up.” Mr. E. J. Howard: It is rough all right Mr. Nosworthv: I am not in a pnjj. ; tiou to say what the tost will be. l, might be more or less. The vote of £315 on the Estimates to pay the fee of Mr. M. Mvers K.C who represented the Government be! fore the joint committee on Samoa was objected to by Mr. H. E. Holland and Mr. Howard, both of whom ex pressed the view that it was too high - Mr. Holland asked how many sitting, there were of the committee. Mr. Nosworthv: i do not know, but I do not think it is a very hi-h charge. Labour Members: Oh! Isn't it? Mr. Forbes: Judging by the result, it is high. Mr. Nos worthy Well, the Government was caused a great deal rf trouble over this. I am satisfied in my own mind that the Minister of . Justice is quite fair in this. Mr. Holland (laughingly): Well, vou belong to the same union. Have you i worked it out in comparison to the j salary received by members of Parliament who sat ou the same com- ! mittee? Mr. Nosworthv: Members of Parliaiuent are not paid as counsel are We would be ou a good wicket if we got half of what Mr. Myers earna. Mr. Holland: You mean what he gets. Mr. Nosworthy: What he earns They have their scale of fees. Mr. Holland: But there is a difference between what a man earns and what he gets. Mr. Wilford: We do not get what we earn. Mr. Nosworthy: Well, if Mr. Mver, had to appear for the Leader of the Opposition and myself he probablv would charge more than he ha, charged the Government.