LUXURIOUS M.H.R.’s.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2338, 14 September 1880, Page 3

LUXURIOUS M.H.R.’s.

(“ New Zealand Herald,” Sept. 4.)

Pay, cheap hoard, travelling expenses occasional pickings, and a chance to roll a private log—the position of a member of Parliament is not to be sneezed at. Two hundred guineas ; strike when you like, and work as you please. It is one of the prizes in the lottery of life. Hapjiy is the man who is a parliamentary representative. He takes a cab to the Hinemoa, and the country pays for it —not always. He travels to Wellington free of cost, liquors excepted —doubtless some machination of Sir William Fox —he boards at Bellamys at the modest rate of 30s a week (the country paying the difference), ami if he bo in luck, lie, besides, picks up some crumbs. But lot ns not slander the chosen of the people. All do not charge their cab hire and board at Bellamy’s, but all take their two hundred guineas, let the sessions be ever so short

or ever so frequent. The paths of politics are paths of pleasantness if not of peace. As with members so with Ministers. They get their salaries, and house rent superadded. Whatever else the representatives of the country may neglect, they take uncommonly good care of themselves. In 1874 they were paid £1 a day, and it is a remarkable, but possibly a fortuitous circumstance, that the sessions were then not short. 8o to expedite work the pay was lixed at one hundred guineas. But hon. members were not to be “diddled” in that way. They went back on the bargain and helped themselves to two hundred guineas, now reduced by the magnificent sum of 10 per cent. Members of Parliament are an illustration of the theory of development. Six hundred guineas in round numbers have been paid hon. members in about thirteen mouths, and what is there to show for it? Talk, endless and chieJly barren, personal squabbles, thin Houses, important Bills thrown in the waste basket, others rushed through, culminating in a strike, the fobbing of 200 guineas, less that illustration of expansive generosity 10 per cent., and a return home 11 prepaid and with care.” It’s not a bad business in these dull times this Parliamentary business. Good pay, with change of air, and some cheap feeding, and the luxury of an occasional turn at the Government House, with a Pattering word from the representative of Her Majesty. The country has got a pretty lig foot, and it must put it down. It should never again tolerate the throw-

ing away of six hundred guineas per head in thirteen months any reasonable consideration ; and if it is to pay two hundred guineas it must not do so for a three months’ session, mostly wasted. The public money is hard earned, and it cannot afford tp fling it at members of Parliament, fast becoming a useless and expensive luxury. It would be better to post a notice at the Parliament houses, “ These premises to let—inquire of the people of New Zealand.” Members have had their innings and when the next elections come round the electors should grant them leave of absence. Retirement and the loss of pay would teach them a lesson, breed repentance and make them more deferential to the public opinion, which, laden with thirteen months’ spoil, they now flout.