THE SPEAKER'S "PERKS."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12645, 4 November 1905, Page 4

THE SPEAKER'S "PERKS."

Somh quaint privileges pertain to the--office of the Speaker of the House of Commons. One of these is the gift; every year from the' Master of the Buckhounds, of a' buck and a doe killed in the royal preserves. The buck duly atTrives in September, the doe coyly following in November. The custom goes baeJs as far as records remain, and with it is established a fixed fee -by way of ( honorarium to the official (of course not?

the Master of the Buckhounds) who forwards the beasts. Later in the year, same where about Christmas time, the* Speaker receives another tribute, the donors on this occasion being the Clothworkers' Company of London, who send a present of a generous width of the best broadcloth. Further, the Speaker is entitled to £1000 of equipment money and 2000 ounces of plate immediately on his election, two hogsheads of claret, and £100 a year for stationery„ In former times the income of the Speaker was £o a day, in addition to fees on private bills. Hie salary has now been fixed by Act of Parliament at £5000; a year. He is invested as Speaker with the office of Trustee of. the British Museum and Controller of the National Debt. Since the Revolution he has 'be-

come tho First Commoner, and has constantly taken place next to the Peers at all times, both in and out of Parliament. The Speaker's retiring pension is voted by the House of Commons. Formerly the pension was fixed at £2000 p®r annuni for two lives. A Speaker, however, who was childless wished that the pension should be £4000 per annum for one life—his own—-and it has since remained at that sum. •