The Progressive Labour Party is set to launch a $5 a week `tax' on members to help fund its General Election campaign and pay off its debts.

Party chiefs have written to branch members asking them to fork out to assist in paying off the mortgage for its Alaska Hall headquarters and to pay for day-to-day operations, as well as building up the war chest for a crucial campaign.

In a letter to branch members, party deputy leader and Finance Committee chairman Eugene Cox said: "The PLP needs you.

"This is an election year and we want to do all that we can to completely liquidate our outstanding indebtedness owed on our building.'' The letter added: "We have received some donations from external sources, parliamentary contributions and funds from national fundraising efforts.

"However, we want to accelerate our efforts to discharge our mortgage debt.'' Mr. Cox said the fundraising plan had been approved by the party's Central Committee, which expects the proposal to assist the party without hitting individual branches' pockets too hard.

He added: "We believe that it is a financial proposal that will guarantee funding for the elimination of the party's present indebtedness and the day-to-day operating expenses and future funding for election/emergency requirements.'' Mr. Cox added that -- if agreed -- the cash would be collected from members at branch level and forwarded to the PLP Central Committee, to be administered by the party's Finance Committee.

But the letter said the normal branch assessments -- based on the number of members -- would also be deducted from cash raised.

The letter ends with the hope that the proposal receives "favourable consideration''.

Mr. Cox said yesterday the move was the kind of fund-raising practised elsewhere.

He added: "We don't have any rich backers and we have to ask our members to contribute.

"And we always have to have our war chest well-filled. This is a way, like any other organisation has to do, to get money in advance.

"Like a lot of businesses, we have a building which we have to continue to pay for, contrary to what you may have heard several months ago.'' Mr. Cox said: "It's a sensible and normal thing to do. If we ask others, we have to ask ourselves to do it as well.

"And at election time, we need to be prepared for all the things we want to do.'' Last month, The Royal Gazette reported that PLP candidates and MPs in the two crucial Warwick constituencies had been asked to stump up $10,000 apiece to fund their General Election battles.