PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1407, 19 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegbaph.] [pbom the corbespondent op tiie pbeßs.] Wellington, August 18. THE HONORARIUM. After tho telegraph office closed, the debate on the reduction of honorarium was resumed in committee. Mr Saunders considered it very undesirable that members should be encouraged to prolong the session by giving them an honorarium proportionate in amount to the length of time which they spent in Wellington. He alluded in the course of his speech to the removal of the House to Christchurch, and added that ho hoped this would soon take place. Mr Gisborne said he knew it was very easy to obtain popularity by railing at this honorarium, but for'himself ho considered the matter a large public question. Ho believed that the general feeling amongst the people was that the honorarium should be increased. Ho hoped the Government would bring in a Bill that would settle this question definitely and finally. Mr Wason said he had heird nothing that justified in any way the hon. member for Totara in accusing those who had spoken previously of doing so with the view of gaining popularity by means that cost them nothing, and of voting against the honorarium simply with the view of gaining such popularity. Mr Wakefield protested against the remarks of tho member forTotan. Ho himself voted for the excision of the item altogether from principle, and even if he know that the potion would ba carried, and although if it was canned he would be unable to retain his seat in the House, he would still have voted in the same manner. For himself, he could say that he had never found tho honorarium cover all his expenses. With regard to what had been said about offering a premium to members for lengthening the session, he would not refrain from saying that he did not consider tkerc was any likelihood, or even possibility, of members purposely increasing the length of tho session in order to obtain an increase to the honorarium. He knew that with too many every day that was added to the work of the session took so much more money out of their pockets. Mr Stout denied that he had said that members would purposely lengthen tho session. He thought the amount should be ,£301), as_ it was in Victoria. It was altogether the question 1 of expense that led to the resignation of many of the members during the recess, and thus the country had lost the services of some most valuable men, and it appeared to him to be a most mistaken measure of economy to reduce the honorarium of the membors. He should vote for tho sum as it stood. Sir George Grey said on several occasions I have affirmed that it is for the good of the whole country that the expenses of tho members should bo paid. This was the ancient custom in England, and I believe that all that diss feeling that has obtained at Home in modern times is due entirely to this custom having fallen through. I could not express more appropriately than the member for Totara has done my wish to have this question definitely determined. I tell yon that if you reduce greatly, or altogether abolish the payment of member?, you will throw the legislation of the country entirely into the hands of one class, and I fully bilievc that to establish the non-payment of members would entail upon the colony all the evils arising from a system of legislation for a part only of the inhabitants. It was with these viows that I had this sum placed_ on the esti- | mates. You will notice that it is not down ' under the term honorarium now. As to tho

final decision of this question, although as I said before, I should wish to see it definitely determined, yot I think it had better bo put off till the basis of representation throughout the colony has been rearranged, as was proposed. If we aro to h ;ve a new Parliament elected by a constituency founded on the broadest possible basis, I think the decision of this question ought to be left for such a i arliament. The important question u,t present really is whether the amount of the i<om on the estimates is sufficient to cover all the expenses of members. 1 will only add that if it is too small, you must increase it ; if too largo, reduce it; if it is exactly sufficient, leave it. For myself, neither from habit nor traiuing, can I form any just idea of what amount may bo considered necessary. [Applause. ] A division ww then takon on the motion by Mr Saunders, for reducing the total sum of £21,575 by £5394. The ayes wore 19, and the noes 41. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The consideration of further items were then proceeded with, and Messrs Shrimski and Swanson both objected strongly to the item of .£250 for Examiner of Standing Orderß, which Mr Swanson characterised ns the greatest sham possible. The motion for excision of this item was negatived on the voices. Mr Stevens asked some questions with regard to the placing on the estimates of two separate sums of £250, one on account of Bellamy's, and one for the Custodian of the Parliamentary Buildings. He understood last session that both these offices were to be included under one item. A discussion ensued, in the course of which it was proposed that Bellamy's should be done away with altogether. Mr Sheehan objected to this strongly, and said that if there were no Bellamy's in existence members would be sure to find separate Boh lamya' for themselves, and, if wanted for an important division, it would be necessary to look for them in the club or in the nearest public house. Cries of "Oh, oh," and laughter. The establishment was retained by a majority of 29 to 22. Item, £450 for fencing, was omitted on the voices. The total vote of £39,000 was passed, and the House rose at 1 a.m. The whole evening sitting afforded a spectacle suggestive of sad reflections to onlookers. At one period nothing could be hoard in the HouHe except loud and persistent cries of "question, question," "order," "question," and this lasted for the grea'.er part of five minutes. FRIENDLY SOCIETIHS ACT. Colonel Whitmora will introduce a Bill on Tuesday to amend the Friendly Societies Act, 1877, and, though I havo not been able to see it, I am informed on good authority that it will contain certtin provisions of great importance to all who are in any way interested in this subject. The Registrar-General of Friendly Societies will also send in his report this week.