THE SALARIES OF M.P.’S.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3517, 2 July 1920, Page 5

THE SALARIES OF M.P.’S.

GOVERNMENT ‘S PROPOSALS, v RISE TO £4OO PER ANNUM. JUDGES AND MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, June JO. The salaries and allowances of the Governor-General, the Judges of the Supreme Court, the members of the Ministry, and the members of the General xCssembly are all dealt with in the Civil List Bill, which was introduced to-day. Most, interest naturally attaches to the proposals made in respect of Ministers and members.. The salary of the Prime Minister is to be £IOOO, and provision, is made for ten Ministers at £IOOO annually. Each Minister is to be provided with a residence in Wellington or to receive in lieu thereof a house allowance of £2OO a year. One Maori member of the Executive may be paid £BOO a year, or there may be two to receive £SOO each* The salaries proposed to be paid to members of Parliament are as follows: Speaker of the Legislative Council, £7OO (at present £000). Chairman of Committee of the Council, £4OO (at present £300). Members of the Council £3OO (at present £200). Speaker of the House of Representatives, £9OO (at present £800). Chairman of Committees of the House, £OOO (at present £500).

Members of the House, £4OO (at present £300). The Governor-General is to be paid £SOOO a year, wi|h an allowance of £2OOO for the salaries and expenses of his establishment and £SOO a year for travelling expenses. Half salary is to be paid to the Governor-General during his absence- from Now Zealand or his incapacitation from any cause. The other half will be paid to the officer administering the Government during such period. Government House in Wellington, together with the buildings and gardens, is to be maintained at the public cost. The expenditure on the grounds is nut to exceed £SOO annually. Government House will he furnished, papered, and painted at the public cost. All other expenses aie to be met by the Governor-General. Government House at Auckland is mentioned. No public expenditure is to be made on this property other than the expense of keeping the house and grounds in order and taking care of the house during the absence of the Governor-General. The Chief Justice is to bo paid £2OOO a year, and seven Judges are to be paid £IBOO a year each. The Bill provides that the salaries and allowances specified in the schedule shall he exempt from income tax and all other taxes and other charges. The proposal to exempt, salaries from income tax was not very popular, and it is understood that the Prime Minister was never much,enamoured of it. The probability is that it will be cut out of the Bill. The proposed increase of £IOO a year is,-however, not likely to meet the general wishes of a ma f iority of (he members of the House, and no doubt an amendment will eventually be moved to increase the honoraria by £2OO, making them £SOO per annum.