The Dominion TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1911. THE PAID M.P.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1911. THE PAID M.P.

There still appears to bo some doubt as to the British Government's intentions concerning' the payment of members of Parliament. It. has been asserted that a Bill will bo introduced for the immediate establishment of a salary of £500 a year, but this, so far as the amount is concerned, has been denied by a_ leading lladical journal. The question is one in which > New ZeaJanders cannot help taking a certain interest, and it is safe to say that this particular innovation will bo watched closely wherever British politics are the object of attention. There arc not many countries in which tho legislators work for love, and if Britain adopts that system through which,' in J. S." Mill's words, "tho calling of a demagogue would be formally inaugurated," the day of unpaid legislators may be considered to have come to an end. From an official paper issued in 1906 it appears that members of Parliament are paid in the following European countries: Austria, Hungary, Bavaria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, .the Netherlands, Norway, Rumania, Russia, _ Saxony, Sorvia, Sweden, and Switzerland. Members are paid also in America and in all tho self-governing colonies of 'the Empire. In some, of tho European countries tho'pay is a fixed amount per annum, regardless of the length of tho . session—in Hungary £200, in Belgium £160, in France £600, in Germany £150, in Greece £72 (per session), in the Netherlands £166, and in Sweden £G6. • In other countries tho pay is so miich per day, ranging from 10s. in liavaria to £l Is. in Russia for members of the Duma.

One of the arguments advanced by the British opponents of the payment of members of Parliament • is that once the system is established there will-bo a constant tendency towards an .incroaso in the pay. In frap.ee tho salary of membors was 9000 francs (£360) a year, but the Deputies raised their pay to 15,000 francs (£600) in 1907. It is an interesting fact that just as in New Zealand the public talked for years —and still talks now and then—of "the £40 steal" and "tho £60 steal," referring to the increases which our own members voted themselves, so in France the "£240 steal" has made tho Deputies subject to constant ridicule and contempt. ' They are contemptuously dubbed "les qidnzc mills" (the. flftcen-thousancl-crs). "Qur readers will perhaps re-member'-that the last act of.. the Transvaal House was the voting of a quite illegal payment to the mem 7 bers. Tho successive increases ', in tho salaries of members of our own Parliament—from £200. to £240, and from £240 to £300—might any day be continued, if- the present Government remains in office, _for there hnvo been frequent complaints from the Government's followers that £300 a year is not enough.. America, however, furnishes the best example of the way in which the politician's salary tends to grow,. In 1789 it was six dollars a day. This wa3 increased to oight dollars in 1818. In 1806 the ■ payment by days was abolished, and an annual salary of 3000 dollars: was established. This ■was increased to 5000 dollars in ' 1866, and to 7500 • dollars in 1873. On this last occasion, however,' the public was indignant, and the salary of 5000 dollars was reestablished. . In 1907 the salary was again raised, and now stands at 7500 dollars (£1500) apart from all kinds of .pickings. In South Australia tho Government is in favour of increasing the pay of members, and' a Bill to this end will probably be introduced next session. No matter what figuro the British Government may begin with, Great Britain, if tho system of stipendiary legislators ■is established, will have to consider the possibility that the American standard will -be reached. This would mean a new annual expenditure of a million sterling. • But even this would bo the least part of the loss that such a change would mean to tho public life of Britain.