To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. December 29, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 879, 4 January 1854, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. December 29, 1853.

Wellington-, Sir, —The argument Which the Speaker of the Provincial Council adduced in favor of the payment of % salary to the member filling that honorable office in the Council, was calculated "to impress upon the public the belief, that if he refused a salary he should consider he wts injuring bis successor. The pith of his speech was, that in his opinion he-should, by refusing a salary, perhaps gain a little popularity-, but that lie was oF opinion the salary was not referable to the individual who filled the office, and that if he refused it, it would be at the expense of principle, and would form a bad precedent for his predecessor, who might be in such a position as not to He able to accept trie office without a salary, thereby placing a property qualification on the office. Now, with regard to the individual who might fill the office, he is no more required to be a man of property than any other member of. the Council, because as far as property is concerned his position in the Council is the same; if the Speaker must be a man of property on account of there being no salary attached to the office, so also must the nrembers be for the same reason ; the only difference io their positions being, that the Speaker is chosen from among the members to preside at their sittings, and to give them the benefirof his knowledge and experience; but the amount of property he may possess does not give him that knowledge and experience, and therefore as the office entails no more expense than, as a member, he would have incurred, 3nd as he is, in that respect, iv the same position as a member, there can be no reason why, because he has been chosen a Speaker of thai Council, he should receive the economical and moderate salary of £200 per annum. A person who is in such a position as not to be able to fill the office without a salary, is not in a position to be a member of tire Cdnncii without a salary, because the expenses of the one are no more than (hose of the other, and the honor conferred by the office ouglit to be an equivalent to any other consideration. If these remarks should be considered by yoti worthy of a place in your journal the insertion of, them would greatly oblige A LOOKER "6N.