MINISTERIAL EXTRAVAGANCE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 706, 23 September 1876, Page 2

MINISTERIAL EXTRAVAGANCE.

To the Editor of the Globe,

Sir. —ljdare say very few of those who are blind admirers of the Vogel party have very little idea of the manner in which the money, which to a very large extent is gathered from the mass of the people, is squandered. We have heard a good deal about the Governor’s yachts, and the honest and innocent Minister, Mr George McLean, as yet knows nothing (that is, you must understand, officially) of them. They will appear, however, before next session, and then a full explanation will come, which will satisfy everyone of the members, because they will be carried about free of expense. They therefore cannot possibly object. As all the members, according to Mr J. E. Brown, are, so to say, species of inspectors-general of everything, they will of course have an opportunity, at the public expense, of travelling both by land and water. 1 suppose the next thing will be that every member will retire on a life pension, eked out by tickets for all roads, railroads, steamers, theatres, &c, free of charge. We had better carry this principle right out, and let us all live on a common purse aftevwe have arrived at a certain age. That would be splendid. I recommend the ;dea to Mr John Evans Brown. But to return. I find upon enquiry that the amount spent by Ministers, including Sir Julius Vogel £30,000, and by rt embers in gratuities, has. amounted during Sir Julius Vogel’s term of power, to uo less a sum than £321,0‘00,

Very few probably are aware that Ministers have houses provided, besides furniture, and if anything gets broken, I believe it to be a fact than an order is sent round to the crockery shop for a new one. There is a story current that at a party at one of the Ministers, the servant fell with a tray of glasses, when the girl immediately exclaimed—“Oh, it does not matter, they cost nothing.” Yours, &c, M. P. C.