TWO MILLIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3534, 23 July 1920, Page 3

TWO MILLIONS.

INCREASED STATE SALARIES.

MEMBERS RAISED TQ £450

WELLINGTON; July -2.1

A scries ..f Government bills and a brief but important statement by the Finance Minister to the House gave a vivid picture oil what the diminished value of the sovereign means to the State in meeting obligations to its employees. I'iist came an amendment to the Judicature Aet, varying the Government's original intenti.n by eliminating the proposed exemption of judges' salaries from income tax. but increasing the Chief Justice's salary to £2250 and other judges to £2OOO, Increased salaries to magistrates are promised in the Magistrates Court Amendment Bdi. The- salaries <-f stipendiaries at Auckland, Wellington, Christehurch, and Dunedin, u-e fixed at £9OO, being an increase of £IOO, while the salaries of second magistrates in these cities are increased by from £SO to £BSO. All otiter magistrates £BOO. being an increase of .£IOO, payable from March 31 last. It is promised that every magistrate shall retire on ' reaching the age of (15. MEMBERS' SALARIES INCREASED The increase of members' salaries from £3OO t £450 is tiiTe principal provision of the re-drafted Council List Bill, introduced by the Government iff day. Legislative Oounci.lt. a' salaries are £3OO, as indicated in the Government's, fii.-t Bill. There is no

reference to exemption from inc..me tax, a proposal which has been dropped, nor is there indication d"f a superannuation scheme for members. The reason is that the autuarlia investigation is a difficult one, and the rep rt is not complete. Some indication of the need for superannuation is that the Government this"~session will have to recommend votes to six ex-legislators who are in necessitous circumstances. "INSULT TO JUDGES."

When the Judicature Bill came forward Mr McCallum declared that he was astounded and surprised at the Government's proposals. It was just a 10 per cent, increase, while the cost of living had doubled. He agreed with, the wisdom of withdrawing the income tax exemption, but how the Ministry could justify such a paltry increase he did not know. Personally, if he was a judge, he would say "Take it back, it's insulting." (Laughter.) Members: No you wouldn't.

"Don't lot us. blow h.t and cold .on (lie subject;." urged Mr Isis. wfco said the House in the past had not given the Government much of a lead in paying proper salaries to men of hio-h. ability. Eveu Bolshevik leaders in Russia had come to recognise that they must reward intelligence adequately.

Mr lianan suggested that the Premier was of tiie worst paid officers of the State, having regard to the tremendous amount of work and anxiety and wear amd ,'tcar on his health.

Mr Lysnar contended that judges' salaries were quite inadequate. The Least should be £2300 to the Chief Justiee and £2300 to other judges. If this were not done they would be worse off than, when sa.aries were fixed in 1904.. The Premier's salary was quite inadequate, nor we're his Ministers property pa id. After further discussion on these lines Mr Massey interposed in the de- I bate to ask that the position be viewed | from the Finance Minister's standpoint. He gave way tj nobody in his ; admiration i'w the judges'" work, and; believed the time was coming when the country would have to pay more for the best brains, but what was the financial position .' On.y that morning lie had to g- into the amount of increases of salaries and bonuses for the Civil Service. Increases were being granted to judges, magistrates, post, and telegraph officers, policemen, railwayinen, and other public servants, ' and the total would work out. at tvf£' uiili'p e« sterling. ' *>r?i ?C() 1 NCR E A SKI) TAX A Tl()N. ,/'

I He did not expect to be ctrmpelleclTtto ! increase taxation this or nexl year. ]( largely depended on the price roceived for the country's produce—lWti people would have to pay more f*MI ■ ;"• * ■!< v . "0.-f a;, i ', graph faci if :i<*W Tm 'Other words these Departments would have to provide their own iftf-" creases in , salaries. Fortunate I !}'* (here bad been a surplus for the MHt few 'years, and therefore increased taxation could be avoided. The country v.-iis prosperous, and nion'\v was plentiful, but New Zeal.tnders niust remember that they existed on the produce they produeoY!. and must not for- | get to look ahead at the possibilities j of future prices, which might not bo as good as at present. He hoped to present tl}Q Financial Statement on Tuesday or Wednesday, wlven he would deal fully W ith the position. Meanwhile he hoper mp'vhrrs woiiTfl be as reason;)bile 'as possible in ihoir dema.nds. <