MEMBERS' SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1920, Page 4

MEMBERS' SALARIES.

The Government has lost no time in introducing a Bill providing for an increate in the pay of members of Parliament. There is a consensus of opinion that the £3OO a year hitherto given to members is quite inadequate, not only in view of the importance of the work devolving on representatives of the people in Parliament, but also in view of the heavy expenses that must necessarily be incurred in electoral campaigns, living from home a considerable part of the year, visiting the different parts of the electorates every year, and being called upon to subscribe to almost every fund raised. The increase is long overdue, and its payment is a matter of justice. There aiv, however, two points in connection with the proposal to which exception may be taken. In the first place the amount of the increase (£100) appears to err jn the side of modesty. A member's services should certainly be worth not less than £SOO a year. Possibly all the members may not be deemed to come up to the estimate, but there can be no discrimination, the remedy being that all -the electorates should strive to secure thj services of the very best men of administrative capacity, and possibly £SOO a year might result in enhancing the calibre of Parliamentary ..candidates. The second point calling for comment is the proposal to exempt members' salaries from income-tax. We have no hesitation in condemning such a proposal, which U altogether wrong in principle and practice. There can be no equitable incidenco of taxation if certain classes of people are exempted, and it is contrary to all sense of rectitude that those who decide the amount of taxation should escape the common burden. The proper course to adopt is to make the salary sufficient to cover income tax as well as other unavoidable outgoings. That is partly the reason we advocate increasing the salary to £SOO.