HARDSHIPS OF M.P.'S.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 October 1919, Page 2

HARDSHIPS OF M.P.'S.

NEED FOR PENSION FUND.

INCREASED HONORARIA.

PRIME MINISTER SYMP..'\THE'I‘IC‘i

;\. supcl'an.mlatioll scheme .f.'ur members of Par]ia,nlen‘h was briefly discussed in the House 03:’ Representatives on Wednesday.

The question was raised “by the Hon.D. Buddo (Kaiapo), who objected to the system of compassionate grants at present in vogue for past members or their depenldxants. |He felt, and he knew other members felt, that this should not be so. Any system should be ‘contributory. No doubt at least 75 per cc~nt "of the members would not ake advantage of the. system, still it should be a’3r'e£il~a.ble for any member who had served in Parliament for, say, eight. 01"‘ nine years. Other members urged the necessity for the scheme in a similar stnain. The Prime Ministerysnicl the question had’ been under consideration many times. He quite -agreed thatthe time had xarrivend when some‘thillg should be done, He also agreed that the honorarium was not. sufficient. He did not know how many members could carry on with it. He also :agreed that any pension scheme should be made contribu't—ory. He had no definite scheme in mind. He» did not know, moreoj'er, whether it would be possible to establish any fund this session, but he would be glad, if it proved possible, to ask the assistance of Imembers in establishing a fund.