The Globe. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 935, 23 June 1877, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1877.

Ix all probability the honorarium question will he discussed at the approaching meeting of the General Assembly. Last year the amount was increased in consequence of the length of the session, but we hope no such excuse will be necessary this year. Members do not profess to regard the

payment made as an equivalent for the loss of time spent in the service of the public. It is simply to cover actual expenses incurred. There is, however, we are sorry to observe, an inclination in some quarters to fix the payment on such a scale as to be equivalent to payment of members —and £BOO per annum is the sum suggested. It is urged that if the system of the payment of members were adopted, there would be a wider range of choice of representatives ; that men of cultivation and ability are at presentprevented from seeking the suffrages of the electors from inability to bear the expense of attendance at Wellington. Theoretically this may be perfectly true. There are, no doubt, many able men of limited means, who would make excellent representatives could their services be secured. Experience, however, teaches us that such men do not come to the front when those inducements are held out. The case of Victoria is a melancholy example of what we mean. There the system of paying members has been in existence for some time, and the tone of the Assembly has certainly not been raised thereby. A class of trading politicians has been created, and, as Mill says, the “ trade of politics is from the nature of the case demoralising.” It would be wrong, of course, to credit the payment of members with all the evils which have befallen Victoria; a variety of causes has, no doubt, contributed to the sad result. But it was nevertheless a notorious fact, that the prospect of securing £3OO per annum had a great deal to do with inducing many of the candidates to take the field. We hope the day is far distant when such a spectacle will be witnessed in New Zealand. Hitherto our House of Representatives has been held up as an example to the other Australian Colonies, and, although its tone was not improved at the last elections, it still holds the premier position. Were its members, however, to vote themselves an annual salary, besides other perquisites, we are afraid the character of the House would rapidly deteriorate.

In yesterday’s issue we called attention to the wide-spread dissatisfaction which exists in Christchurch at the action taken by the Finance Committee of the City Council with reference to its banking account. It is difficult to understand why it is desirable in 1877 to take a different course from that adopted in 1874, when tenders were called for the banking account. On that occasion Cr. Hobbs, who was the mover of the resolution, was eloquent on the necessity for putting up the account to tender. He pointed out, that they would only be doing their duty to the ratepayers in getting the best interest they could obtain for their deposits, Cr. Ick, who seconded the motion, considered that local institutions had not had fair play, and believed that the same opportunity should be given to them, as was possessed by other contractors when tendering for various kinds of work. On that occasion the resolution was carried, all the Councillors except one voting for it. Now, the arguments which were felt to be so powerful in 1874, are equally applicable now. We hope, therefore, that Crs. Hobbs and Ick will see their way at the meeting to raise their voices in equally eloquent terms against the course adopted by the Council at its last sitting, and do their best to induce the members to do “ their duty to the ratepayers,” by putting the account up to tender.