The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1871

Dunstan Times, Issue 502, 1 December 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1871

Beneath the Tlulo of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword ’■

How that the “ potent, grave, and reverend seignois ” of our colonial parliament are resting wearily from their labors, their constituents may find some sort of satisfaction in knowing 'upon what pleas and precedents they estimate the value of their respective services in their country’s cause, at the modest sum of “ 1 001. per regular session, exclusive of travelling expenses.” The Report of the Honorarium ' Committee is, as usual in such cases, •redundant with information. Proofs •positive, proofs assertive, and proofs ■circumstantial. It shews that “ there are very few nations that do not pay Members of Parliament.” The exceptions being Great Britain, Italy, Spain • and Austria. Victoria pays’3oo?. per annum, for three ■years. Switzerland,—-12 francs a day, and 1 franc SO centimes per diem travelling expenses. America, 1,0411. 13s. 4d. per annum, and mileage 20 cents per mile to and from Con- , gross. Canada.—ll. Ss. per day, if not over ■thirty days ; if over that 1251. Newfoundland.—President of Legislative Council, 240 dollars; each Member, 120 dollars ; Speaker of the House of Assembly 923 dollars ; Members resident at outposts, 291 dollars eaob ; Members resident in capital, one hundred.and ninety four each. Holland.—Upper House, nothing; Lower House, 1611. each, and mileage. Belgium.—Upper House, nothing ; Lower House, 161. 15s. Id. eachmonthly, during sitting. Sweden.—Upper House, nothing; Lower : House, CCI. 13s. 4d. Norway.-—l3s. 31 d- per day, and all costs • to and fro. Portugal. —Upper House, nothing ; the ! Lower House, 10s. per day for the session. Greece.—Senators, 500 drachmas, equal to I'll. 15s. 2d. each per month, not limited to Session ; Representatives, 250 drachmas per month, equal to 81. 17s. 7d. during the Session. Mexico.—Members of both Houses, 2,000 dollars per year. Brazil.—Members of Senate, 4001. per iannum. Members of Congress, 2701, and travelling expenses. France.—Senators, 1,2001. per annum. Members of Commune, 1001. per month. "V ictorian liberality is set forth as a bright example worthy of imitation, and from the columns of the Press are gleaned laudatory expressions of opinion, as instance from the Australasian :—“ We shall h*ve no more “corruption, no more disorderly scenes, “no more senseless quarrels with ■“ either the Home Government or the “ Council. The new Parliament will “ be free from many obstacles that im- •“ peeled its predecessor.” From the Leader Payment of members has “ so far worked as well asits warmest “ advocates could have anticipated. “ The effect produced by the payment “of members upon the gold-fields’ “ elections has been not only to in- “ increase the number of candidates, ■“■ and thereby widen the choice of the “ constituencies, but to enable a class “of men to stand who otherwise “ would scarcely have undergone the ■ “ expense and trouble of a contest. . ■“ . . . . The number of political “ adventurers will be diminished, and “ there will be a larger number of lo- “ cal men thoroughly understanding “ the wants and wishes of their “•constituents, ” <tc. With such • cogent arguments, adduced from facts and figures, how can the New Zealand tax-payer demur at the self awarded recompence of our legislators.. But as each individual Representative of the people quietly pockets his “ Honorarium ” will he be able to say with a clear conscience, that he has rendered full value for. the money 1 ? We trow not, in some,coses. wwwwmpiwPMW m „, M