PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 15 June 1871, Page 6

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Mr Barton in speaking on the Honorarium question i 8 reported by the "Daily Times" to have spoken as follows: — When he rose yesterday to move the adjournment of the debate he was under the impression that the question would be ti'eated in the same contumelious way in which it had always been treated formerly. When he thought the question would be treated in that way he announced his intention of endeavouring to throw light upon the subject, and, if necesary, that he would "blaze" to effect' that purpose. — (Laughter.) But now, when he came into the Council, he found, to his great surprise, that there was a torch in every man's hand. He was also much surprised and pleased, on leading the newspaper that morning, to find that the honourable member for Oteramika, who was also a member of the Central Government (the Hon. Mr Dillon Bell), had expressed himself in favour of payment of members. He expressed that opinion in a way that showed his mind had advanced thus far — that he sees those who represent the publiointerestsare entitled to be honestly paid iv above-board manner, just as well as those who represent any other interest in the country. He did not want to see men excluded from that Council simply because they were not wealthy men. He wanted to see all classes equally represented ; and every constituency enabled to send in whatever man they thought fit, even though his English might not be the very best. — (Laughter.) He hoped to see that day arrive in New Zealand. It had already come in 'Victoria. Payment of members was now established there ; and to this, he was happy to say, his labours in Victoria had contributed. That class of whom the Hon. Mr Bell might be taken as the representative, had apparently, to his great surprise educated themselves up to the belief that there should be payment of members. Thay had either educated themselves up to that belief, or they pretended to have done so. It did not matter which. It proved one of two things; they had either so educated themselves, or they saw that the country would have payment of members. His honourable colleague for Dunedin, Mr Cutten, mentioned, in the courseof bisremarks, that if they did not reduce their own pay, they would not be able to make reductions in other branches of the public service, and that these reductions were absolutely necßsary. At first sight, that argument appeared a very strong one. But the question was, were the members of that Counc overpaid or underpaid ? He had listened with attention to the speeches delivered, and all seemed to be of opinion that ther were underpaid. He thought everyone was anxious fcr retrenchment, if' it were possible; but he held that public officers should not be underpaid. — (Hear, hear.) If they put men upon insufficient salaries, what would be the result? They wouid leave them open to all sorts of temptation, to speculation and rascality. There were many officials who were underworked, and many duplicate offices that might be amalgamated with advantage. If the Government would look into things of that sort, they would find plenty of room for i*etrenchment.

Muslin- Theology. — The curious and " troublesome " style of Carlyle is said to be quite in contrast with his simple straightforward way of talking. Hatred of sham is one of his notable characteristics. One evening,, at a small literary gathering, a lady, famous for her " muslin theology," was bewailing the wickedness of jhe Jews in not receiving our Saviour, and ended her diatribe by expressing regret that He had not appeared in our own time. " How delighted," said she, " we should all be to throw our doors open to Him, and listen to His divine precepts! Don't you think so, Mr. Carlyle ? " The sturdy philosopher, thus appealed to, said, in his broad Scotch, "No, madam, I don't. I think that, had, he come very fashionably dressed with plenty of money, and preaching doctrines palatable tothe higher orders, I might have had the honour of receiving from you a card of invitation, on the back of which would be written , "To meet our Saviour ; " but if He had come His sublime precepts, and denouncing the Pharisees, and associating with the Publicans and lower orders, as He did, you would have treated him much as the Jews did, and have cried out, ' Take him to Newgate and hang him ! ' "