THE PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1915, Page 4

THE PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN

When saying good-bye to the representative of the Lyttelton Times the other clay, the Commonwealth Prime Minister said he had heard a good deal of nonsense talked about the profes-

sional politician during his travels through New Zealand, it seemed to 1)0 considered hy many people here as a reproach to a member of Parliament that he understood his business and devoted the greater part of his time to carrying it out. For himself he thought quite the contrary was the case, particularly in New Zealand, where the honorarium was utterly inadequate to meet all the private and public demands made upon a member. The honorarium should he increased to £SOO or £6OO a year and a salary of £IOOO a year should be paid to the leader of the Opposition and he should be provided with a secretary as well as with office .accommodation. If this were done many men now engaged in professional and mercantile pursuits, who would he very useful members of Parliament, could afford to enter politics. Of course they would he stigmatised as professional politicians hy the people who object to a man devoting all his time to the work for which he is paid, hut they might comfort themselves with the reflection that they were in the same box as Mr Asquith, Mr Honar Law, Mr Lloyd George and Mr Massey. This was the day when the professional was preferred in all useful occupations and when the amateur who went into public life for social position or for amusement was often an obstacle to genuine progress, and rarely of any real assistance to Ids party or the country.