HAPPY TASK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1920, Page 5

HAPPY TASK.

M.P.'s AND THEIR SALARIES. PROPOSED INCREASES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the. House of Representatives this evening, Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Civil List (No. 2) Bill, providing for increasing the payment of members of both Houses, to £3OO in the case of Legislative Councillors, and £450 in the case of members of the House of Representatives. Mr. Massey said the 35111 was based on a motion carried by the last Parliament, in which the principle was affirmed that some increase in the payment of members was necessary. He pointed out that the sessions were longer than they used to be, and the work of members had greatly increased, to say nothing of the increased cost of living, with the result that the present payment was found to be quite inadequate. He could remember many men who had come into the House rich men, and who had gone out poor men, after having given the best years of their lives to the service of the people. Not only should the payment be increased, but some system of superannuation should be provided for exmembers. This was a very difficult question to settle, because it was necessarily very complicated, by reason of the varying ages of members, and he was quite prepared to set up a committee of the House' to go into the matter and endeavor to devise a (scheme. He quoted payments made to members of other Parliaments with a view of showing that New Zealanders were underpaid. He said the Bill was not complete as it stood, but he was moving the second reading in order to get the opinions of members on various points, so that amendments could be made in committee. Mr, Wilford said he wished to identify hiinelf with the Bill, of which he approved, except that he thought the payment should be fixed at £SOO, and that some scheme of superannuation should bo provided by a deduction of 10 per cent. from the payment. He further considered that the Premier's salary should be at least £2OOO per year. The Bill was strongly supported by the Hon. J. A. Hanan, and Messrs. Isitt, Reed, Atinore, Nash, Holland, Lysnar. Sullivan, Kellett, McNicol,' Howard, anil McLeod, most of whom suggested that a member's salary should be £SOO, and that Ministers' salaries should be proportionately increased. In reply, Mr. Massey said he approved of the suggestion that a committee should be set up to consider the Bill, and he proposed to-morrow to nominate a joint committee for that purpose. His personal views on a superannuation scheme seemed to differ slightly from those of the majority of members who had spoken, but he had no doubt an adjustment could be arrived at. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.