The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 270, 15 July 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1880.

The unseemly squabble that lias been gome pn in House of Representative s over %\w. paynient of members' question* shows lis how low -some men are pre - *paml to stoop when the natter jn lpuul touches then- own pockets. During thi' last, anil a few days that went under the nani" of a session previous to that, each member dn :W frqin the pu! lie purse nq less a sum than four hundred guinea?. \This wasteful liberality seems to have completely demoralised the whole gang and this session, when the country is crying out for retrenchment and economy, the repr sentatives of the people are using their utmost efforts to obtain the passing of a measure to secure the permanency of their lion.>rariums. Jf this measure is allowed to be placed amongst the statntes of New Zealand, it cannot be characterised other than a disgrace to the colony; and this at a time when thousands of men are half starving in our midst, snd some even make attempts to end their miserable existence. The spectacle of some eighty to ninety men deliberately voting themselves a premium for loafing about Wellington during a few of the dull months, when people relish a change of seenery and work, :s truly shameful. It is but fair and reasonable, that men, who go to Parliament actuated with a desire to do good t > their fellow-men, should be reimbursed their actual expenses ; but it is not reasonable to expect the colonists to tax themselves to provide salaries for a number or men who are little better than obstructionists to publie business. The cry that if we dj not pay our representatives, we will not get good men, is all buncum. It is well-known that most of the candidates for Parliamentary honours offer themselves, not so much through being prompted by a patriotic feeMng, as from a love of honour, or in order to serve iheir own purpose. Some, it is true, do come forward from a pure desire to serve their country, but these are not the men who are clatnarous for . the honorarium. Our Parliament nee'.s .renovating. So.ue of the member - go there year after year, elected by local influ nee, because they possess considerable property in tiiei r d'strict, more through that than by their tajents. It .suits such aien to have a few months' enjoyment in Bellamy's. When the general election comes round we hope that the electors will weed out these loafers, and return men of sense anc hinor. Regarding the honorarium I drawn by the Upper House members, I the c«se is wor fl e still. Many ot them move in the upper circle drawing goad iucomes from honestly-acquired property But they will not resist Mr Peacock's motion for disa lowing the honorarium, until times improve. Qthers, however are greedy enough to, ta,ke all they- can get, and look for. more.. Surely there is sufficient honor in the pack to, enable Mr Peacock to carry his motion. The work performed by the Upper House is a mere myth, and they do very little good. In- .

deed, if it were demolished torri)orrow, \t would nof; be missed. Jt js simply an asylum fqr weakrininded old rnen to pass away the time that ban s f3Q hrayjly on their hands :