HONORARIUMS TO M’s.H.R.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2202, 4 October 1907, Page 1

HONORARIUMS TO M’s.H.R.

, (Special to Times.)

AVELLINGTON, Oct. 3.

Tlio A! to Z Petitions Committee to-day reported' upon the petitions of C. L. O’Meara, of Bahiatua, <M. Alorrison, of Caversham, and AI. A. Smith, of Now Plymouth, widows of former members of Parliament, who asked for'a compassionate allowance. The' petiti'Qiis were referred to the Government for consideration just beforgMlie 'dinner adjournment. There was a brief discussion on the subject in the House. Mr. Laureiison and some others .spoke of. tho expense members -were put to in getting into the House and afterwards, land urged that £3OO a year was not at all an adequate payment for the work done -and tho expenses incurred. Air. McLachlan,' however, put the other slide of the question. “How many members of this Hoiise have £3OO a -year before they come into it?” ho asked. “Very few,” he replied. : “This wills the biggest windfall blie'r ever had. They.were never in as affluent eireuinstances as they were now. They never bad and never would lrave £3OO a year had it not been for tlie fates putting them into

Parliament as representing- something.” (Before tlio discussion closed tlie Premier said it had been suggested that tlie widows of members should be -provided for oh the same lines as widows of members of tlie Civil Service. He promised to go- carefully into the matter, and let members know wlui.t the Government .thought about it.

If the-suggestion referred to by Sir Joseph Ward is given effect to, wives of .members on the death of their husbands would ge.t a month’s salary (£25) a year for every year their husbands were ill Parliament.