Tongan Nobles Have The Last

Word Over Salary Rises

The confrontation between the Tonga House of Assembly and the Privy Council over a 20 per cent cost-of-living allowance (COLA) ended in a qualified win for the assembly. The parliamentarians’ COLA is dated back to July 1, 1973, and that for civil servants and daily-paid labourers back to January 1, 1974. The Privy Council earlier had decided COLA should become effective for all from April 1, 1974.

The assembly erupted at this and by an 8-4 vote refused initially to pass the estimates for 1974-75. In 1973, the house had carried a lution that any salary increase coming from a review of salaries for the civil service should take effect from July 1, 1973. Members were annoyed as the Privy Council decision that COLA should become effective for all from April 1, 1974 was over-riding the wishes of the people’s represent atives. “It’s undemocratic” was the cry. .

Some members of the assembly were not happy with the new decision from the Privy Council. Mr Masao Paasi, People’s No 1 Representative for Vavau, said that the Privy Council, in reviewing the matter, had not stated clearly the reason why civil servants and labourers should gain COLA backdated to only January 1, 1974, when members of the House had their salaries backdated to July 1, 1973. In pointing out that the cost of living had risen by 30 per cent since the 19605, he asked why civil servants and labourers were treated differently.

An attempt was made to have the matter referred again to the Privy Council, but eight nobles outvoted six people’s representatives against such a move.