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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2164, 24 February 1880, Page 2

Thk art of misrepresentation has been nowhere more skilfully' or sedulously cultivated- of the leading conservative journals of Great Britain and her colonies. The following clipping received by the mail offers a powerful illustration : —• “ The Melbourne correspondent of the London “ Times ” declares that the system

of paying Members of Parliament has proved a failure. • It was .contended formerly that country districts might contain many capable men whose services were lost through poverty; but none of these geniuses have yet appeared, while there has been a liberal supply of those “who, unsuccessful in other pursuits, ultimately turn their attion to politics.”

Now we have no particular fault to Jiml with conservatism so long as it is kept within fair bounds, but we think any cause must be excessively weak which requires propping up by down-right falsification. The assertion by the Melbourne correspondent of the Loudon “Times” that payment of members has proved a failure in Victoria is absolutely at variance with the facts. The writer would scarcely dare to make such a mendacious statement through a Victorian journal. Hostile as the “ Argus ” and its satellite, the Melbourne “ Telegraph,” originally were to payment of members, they have long abandoned the . task of attempting to outrage the judgment of their readers by an exploded fallacy. Payment of members in Victoria, so far from being a failure, has realised all that its promoters and advocates promised. It has realised the expectations of the constitucnccs, and if the question was relegated to the proposed test of the Government of that colony the plebiscitum —we have no doubt that nine-tenths of the electors would be found voting in favour-of it. Payment of members in Victoria has extended the choice of the electors, and it has brought talent to the front on equal terms with brainless money bags. The best and most brilliant members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly—-some of them like Mr Munro —who belong not to the radical, but to the moderate party—arc men that payment of members, was the means of introducing into the political arena. The colony that refuses to pay its representatives adequately for their services, stands very much in its own light. It practices an economy that is false and delusive. At one time it was alleged that paj rment of members would bring about a reign of political corruption, but the Victorian Assembly was never so corrupt as under the O’Shannassy and .McCulloch administration before payment of members was introduced. A most singular fact, in connection with payment of members is that the liberal gentlemen who wanted no payment for their services before payment of members was introduced, have taken excellent care to pocket their allowances with the utmost regularitj'. The result of the experiment of payment of members in Victoria has been to demonstrate that the fair renumeration of parliamentary representatives is essential to honest, effective, and independent government. But for payment of members the Victorian Reform Bill which is distressing the autocrats of the Upper Chamber so much, would never have been heard of, and the people of that Colony would in all probability be enjoying some of the blessings in the shape of dear food and a property tax, which our Colonial Treasurer has reserved for the inhabitants of New Zealand.