M.P.'S PAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1920, Page 5

M.P.'S PAY.

FIXING THEIR SALARIES. HIGHER RATES PROPOSED. (By Wire,—'Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. When the Civil List Bill dealing with the salaries of Ministers and members was reached in the House of Representatives to-night, some amendments were presented embodying the decisions of the Government as to the *new rate 3. The amendments proposed higher rates of pay than had been suggested in the original Bill, but did not go as far as the joint Parliamentary Committee had done in the matter of increases. The rates of. pay proposed in the amending clauses were as follows, the present salaries in parentheses:— Speaker of the Legislative Council £BOO (£600). Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council £450 (£300). Speaker of the House of Representatives .£IOOO (£800). Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives £7OO (£500). Members of the Council £350 (£200). Members of the House £SOO (£300); The Prime Minister £2OOO ( £1600). Ten other Ministers, each £I3OO ( £1000). Maori member of the Executive Council £IOOO (£800). The amendment provided that all these increases should date from June 30, 1920. DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. MEMBERS NOT UNANIMOUS. ' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. ■ The House of Representatives went into committee to-night on the Civil List Bill. An amendment to clause nine proposed that the increases proposed in the salaries of members should be payable as from June 30, 1920. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) suggested that the increase ought to apply from the time members were elected. Mr. T. M, Wijford (Leader of the Op- ! position) supported this, and considered that further provision should be made by the Government in the direction indicated. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) opposed an increase in the salaries of members. Ministers and members, he said, had preached thrift, yet when an opportunity arose they were out to do something for themselves. Ho had pledged himself to the electors to oppose the increase. He did not oppose the increase for Ministers. Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington South) said members' responsibilities had increased greatly, and if they did their duties in connection with their Parliamentary office they had no time for private business. If they were poor men their Parliamentary work could wreck their business. The position was that of a contract between the people and members, and an increase in the honorarium should run from the date of the last elections. Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton) said members of both Houses agreed before the last election that the honorarium should be raised. It was unfair that the member for Rangitikei should accuse members of rushing to increase their pay. Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) thought they would make a mistake to date the increase back to the election, as the condition of affairs in the country was such that if that was done the people might be irritated. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchuroh North) said members were exposed to the high cost of living as much a3 anyone eke, and they had a right to ask for an increase. They had given the electors to understand that the increase in honorarium, if decided upon, would date from the election, and they were either entitled to it or not. Messrs. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), H. E. Holland (Buller), and H. .Atmore (Nelson) favored the increase dating from the date of the'election. Mr. T. D. Burnett (Temuka) thought the increase should not exceed £SO or £100; he would "oppose the proposed increase. Mr. Massey said he was prepared to modify his amendment by fixing the date as April 1, instead of June 30. The Chairman of Committees said he could not accept that amendment, as it involved an increase in the amount, which could only he submitted to the House through the medium of a Governor's message. The better way would be to withdraw the amendment, and allow the Premier to bring down a fresh amendment fixing the date at April 1. This was agreed to, and the amendment was withdrawn. The remaining clauses of the Bill were passed, but on coming to the schedules which provide for the salaries of Ministers, the Premier moved to report progress on the Bill, which will come up for consideration at a later date. The House rose at 11.52 p.m.