16 JANUARY 1948, Page 16

M.P.s' PAY

Sta,—May I suggest that Mr. Martin Lindsay has overlooked one point when pleading for increased salaries for M.P.s ? That point is the position of the prospective candidates of other parties. It 'has always seemed to me that prospective candidates, by their criticisms, perform a valuable and essential task in creating public opinion. What hope has a prospective candidate, unless he is by some chance also a rich man, of competing with the local Member if the latter is not only subsidised by free travel but is also to be given a considerable salary ? Already the position is

most unfair and difficult ; Mr. Lindsay would make it impossible.—I Sir, your obedient servant, T. D. BATEMAN.

The Old Bridge flubuse, Datchet, Bucks.