M.P. ANNOYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 871, 15 January 1930, Page 16

M.P. ANNOYED

COUNCIL’S REFERENCE TO BONUS “UNGENEROUS IN EXTREME” From Our Own Correspondent TE AWAMUTU, Today. Reference to the bonus for M.P.’s was made by the Waipa County Council, when raising the question of travelling expenses for councillors. This was resented by Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, who said it was “quite uncalled for.” When the question of expenses for | councillors was raised at the meeting | of the Waipa bounty Council on Monday, Mr. Martin said that the question of increased allowance to members of county councils while engaged on county business was placed by him before the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Gauds during last session; that the question was entirely one for the Government. The Minister of Internal Affairs, who was responsible for the legislation, would favourably consider the request when the Counties Act was next under consideration, but any review of the Act would not be undertaken before next session. Mr. Martin regretted that the council had “gone out of its way” to raise the question of the increased allowance to members of Parliament.” This he considered was “quite uncalled for” and “ungenerous in the extreme,” the implication being that M.P.’s were more concerned in looking after themselves than the interests of their constituents and the representatives of local bodies. He assured the council that this was not so, and felt sure that on reflection the council would realise that there was a more dignified method of pvo- ■ testing against any action they coni sidered wrong than imputing ulterior motives to their representatives. The chairman said the council agreed that Mr. Martin had given full I attention to any question brought before him by the council. There was no imputation as suggested; in fact. ! councillors were appreciative of his interest in public affairs.