THE "FREE-PASS" TEOUBLE IN VICTORIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1689, 17 October 1887, Page 2

THE "FREE-PASS" TEOUBLE IN VICTORIA

The " free-pass " system to ex-members of the House 1b under discussion m Viotoria. The B&llarat press is emphatic with regard to the " free-pass " isiae. The " Courier " writes :-" We Bay a temporary victory, for we hope the tax payers will resist this latest attempt to fatten upon them, and that the Government will yet be wise enough to see the propriety of assisting m the rescinding of a resolution whioh is a scandal and a shame. Members are paid more than they are worth already, taking them all round, and ib is too much to expect that the laboring men of Victoria, who have to pay the balk of taxes, will quietly see this farther grab without effective reprisals when the next polling day cornea round. The grab is, to all intents and purposes, a money vote. Having regard to the disclosures Mr Bent made on Thursday evening, It is for the taxpayers fci consider whether it is not advisable to abolish the system altogether, except as to complimentary pasees to illustrious visitors receiving the hospitality of the oolony and m a few other caaen, and make civil service salaries and payment to members of Parliament cover all claims, travelling expenses inoluded. If some reform of this kind be not carried out the railway revenue will be perpetually liable to a perpetually Increasing game of grab under no end of disreputable pretences." The "Star" egtys : — " The country will set at its true value the bombast about a reward for seven years' service, which was previously liberally paid for, on the Miserable pretence of self sacrifice to the tune of £300 a year and privileges, or the unblushing untruth of theaffeotation that these passes are Bought for, not on acoount of their commercial value, but merely as a badge of honor. The badly slmulatad contempt for th§ publio press, m»y well provoke a ■mile. As to the claptrap threats of resignation the only pity Js that they are claptrap, as the country would be" the gainer to many cases if ihj threats were carried out. We re»lly do not like to so belittle the Intelligence of the honorable memberß aa to suppose that they think the Parliamentary axiom that the Commons have control of the publio purse can be pleaded m Justification of their proposal to attack th4t purse on their account."