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1944 NEW ZEALAND

COMMITTEE ON DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS (REPORT OF THE) (Hon. F. W. SCHRAMM, Chairman)

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives

ORDERS OF REFERENCE Extracts from tJie Journals of the House of Representatives Thursday, the 16th Day of Makch, 1944 Ordered, " That for the remainder of the session alt Select Committees of the House have leave to sit on days on which the House is not sitting." —(Right Hon. Mr. Fraser.) Tuesday, the 10th Day or October, 1944 Ordered, " That a Select Committee ba appointed, consisting of ten members, to inquire into and report upon the duties and responsibilities of members of the House of Representatives under more recent developments in the social and economic structure of the Dominion, the inquiry to include a review of the provisions made in the Civil list Act, 1920, or other Acts for payment to members, and for travel and other facilities, and to deal with any anomalies that arise owing to the differing character of the electorates and the varying liabilities of members in their attendance on the House: the Committeo to consist of Hon. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Atmore, Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Broadfoot, Rev. Clyde Carr, Mr. Cullen, Mr. Hackett, Mi'. Holyoake, Mr, Oram, and the Mover." —(Hon. Mr. Nash.)

REPORT The Committee has examined Ihe Order of Reference, and submits the following report and recommendations for consideration of the House: — (1) That in 1920 the honorarium of members' of the House of Representatives was £500 per annum and that of members of the Legislative Council £350 per annum. (2) That in 1922 the honorarium was, with other honoraria and salaries paid by the Government, reduced by 10 per cent, to £450 per annum and £315 per annum respectively. (3) That, with other payments by the Government, the honorarium has varied between 1922 and the present date, but with minor exceptions all other rates of remuneration, with the exception of the Civil List payments, have been restored to the 1920 rates. (4) That the actual sittings of Parliament have been extended. (5) Special parliamentary Committees on matters of national importance have been set up on which members are required to sit without extra remuneration. (6) That changed conditions of Government and constituency duties, particularly under the conditions of war, are such that members of Parliament are required to devote their full time to the work. (7) That membership of Parliament should not be confined to citizens with unearned income sufficient to meet the expenditure required for maintenance of home and social life, irrespective of parliamentary honorarium. (8) That, to ensure freedom of judgment of members, the payment for full-time services should be made from Government funds appropriated by Parliament. (9) That it is undesirable for the honoraria of members of Parliament to be supplemented from outside sources. (10) That the time used by members in travelling and the distances covered have been considerably extended. (l'l) That the travelling-expenses by car at 6d. per mile of members varies from £60 to £300 per annum. (12) That the requirements of legislative, parliamentary work, and electorate needs have so changed that expenses incurred by members in some cases exceed more than twothirds of the amount received, and in one case it was stated that the net honorarium received by a member after meeting expenses did not exceed £100 per annum. (13) That, on the information already available, it appears that the present net income of many members of Parliament does not exceed £200 per annum out of which £37 10s. is deducted for national and social security charges on an assessed income of £300 per annum.