THE PARLIAMENTARY HONORARIUM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 97, 12 August 1879, Page 2

THE PARLIAMENTARY HONORARIUM.

♦ The usual honorarium of members of Parliament iß;£slQ ; eaqh. A few days ngo, however, a proposal was made in the House of Representatives that the vote should be reduced by' £9000, being one-half of the usual amount. But however anxious hon. members' uia'y be to serve their country, this. was too good a chance to be missed, and the proposal was scouted. Mr Bwan~ son,of Auckland, moved that the honorarium should be abolished, saying that 50 guineas .would be quite sufficient. . The idea, however,, did not "take " with the representative's of the people, and they voted vth'emaelyes £21.0 each for the work of the session, llow great was the self-denial of hon member^ wijl be seen when we mention that Parliament met on July 11, and closed ,on August 9. The number of sitting days was about 17, which gives to eaoh' member over £12 per day, or at the rate of £48 per week, as Parliament sits only on Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Dr Hodgkinsou's proposal to teliico t.lio folnl amount by £0000, giving half Ihe usual honornrium, would have boon a fair compromise. This, however, did not suit the majority. No doubt some members voted for the full amount as a farewell slice of political plunder, feeling assured they will nevermoro tako their Boats. Others doubtless regarded it as a fair means of helping them through the expenses of a general election. Mr Johnston did not vole upon the question. The following is the division list upon the motion to reduce tho honorarium by £9000 : — Ayes,23.-Beetham, Buwen, Bryce (toller), Driver, Goldie, llobbs, Hodgkinsou, McLean,' Me Minn, Murray, Oliver, Omiond, Reeve?, Richmond, Rolleston, Russt-11, Suunders, Stevens, . Stewart, Studholme, Sutton, Swanson, Wallis. Noes, 36. — Adams, Atkinson, Bnrff, Uarton, Brown J. E. (teller), Curtis, De Lautour, Feldwick, Fisher, Fox, George, Gisborne, Green, Hamlin, Henry, llislop, Jackson, Joyce, Kelly, Manders, Morris, Nahe, Pyko, Rees (teller), Rowe, Shanks, Sheehan, Tainui, Tawiti, Thomson, Tolo, Tomoana, Turnbull, Whitaker, Williams, Woolcook.