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Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1924, Page 2

Tun opening phases of Parliament did not present much to encourage the political tipsters with further persistence on the familiar lines upon which they were fortelling immediate happenings. The Reformers who were pessimistic about- the probable turn of events v. ill take a little courage from the division at the week-end. The familiar majority of three still stands to Mr Massey’s credit. The signs and portents on which the tipsters were building are still on the political horizon, but a little adroitness has saved the position, at all events for the time. Mr Dickson, the Government Whip, attended the caucus as in duty hound, but was not heckled about his late published interview. Had he been the fat might have been in the tire, but his little offence was overlooked, if not condoned behind the closed doors, and the family squabble for the time being "as patched up at least. Both the Liberal and Teh.ir rartios appear to have faced the political (ire with numbers undiminished. Mr Wilford tathor scored over the oiening skirmishing, and bv consistency and persistency established bi.s claims to undisputed leadershi’’. It would appear therefore that so far as jartv lines are concerned, the session will run its usual length without anv dissolution. The Governm party has everything to lose by any precipitate action'of that nature, and there arc the signs that every move will be taken warilv. Perhaps the shadow of an impending general election might do something to hasten a fusion of the parties most in accord with each other, hut a good few stormv winds, political and otherwise, will blow about Wellington. before ttie time for definite action along such lines will ho deemed opportune. With the opening of the delmte on the ad-drc.ss-in-renly. and the discussions around the no-confidence motions, there "ill Ih> the customary degressions over the whole political field, but the result promises to he the same ns the division on the Imprest Supply Bill lest week—a hare majority for the Government, which will feel constrained to hold on to office and carry on as best it might. This looks like the full history of the session beginning to-day in real earnest.

One of the trouhles of members of local bodies from time to time, is the payments on account of travelling expenses. This difficulty is not peculiar to the Dominion alone. It has arisen in {he Commonwealth, also, ns the fqllqwjpg oxtraet from a Sydney

paper indicates, and tile comparison possible in the matter of the customs in the two countries, is not without interest. The paper says:—One of the petty expenses of local governmeut is the payment of travelling time and subsistence allowance to shire councillors while attending meet, ings. In the more compact shires the item is a small one. In those places where the councillor has to travel 30 or -10 miles the time and distance involved make the yearly bill quito a large one. The rate fixed is one concerning which there is a great deal of misapprehension. The newly-con-stituted Shire of Cudgegong resolved at its last meeting that the period during which the allowance should he paid was 21 hours, to he paid for at 9d per hour, together with Is per mile fur travelling expenses. Mhe fact seems to ho consistently forgotten that although 9d per hour subsistence and Is per mile each way are named in the ordinance they are the maximum •'hie 1 1 can he allowed. If a councillor’s living expenses come to more than 9d an hour he can still only recover the 9d. If his actual out-of-pocket expenses arc only Gd per hour then lie is entitled to that amount and no more. Moreover, he is hound to use due expedition both in coming to and going from the meeting. In regard to travelling allowance Is per mile each way is again named as a maximum and is paid to a councillor "ho uses liis own conveyance, unless there is some public cheaper conveyance which he could have uses!. In the latter ease if he does use his own ear he is only allowed the amount of the lares as expenses. If lie does not use his own ear then he is entitled to whatever lares arc necessarily paid by him to attend the meeting.