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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 541, 13 August 1880, Page 2

[To the Editor of the Waieakapa Daily.] Sir—Ha3- anyone seen or heard of anything that our senior member Mr Bunny has done this session I In fact the question, might apply to any other session, but particularly to this one. The first time I have seen his name even on the division lists was on Friday the 23rd July, when the debate took place on the question of reducing members' salaries, I am happy to see he took' the patriotio side. He like the rest, I presume,' considered : it the one tiling above all others that is due to his constituents—he did not.say this in debate for he spoke not, but by the division list it is evident—that he should take his salary. Did he vote 20 per cent, reduction I He is on the noes. Did he vote 15 percent, reduction ! On the noes.' Did he vote 10 per cent, reduction! Still on the noes, but in a miserable minority in the latter division. Ever his ! electors' interests at heart! That he did, not vote for this reduction is quite right. . How, could the.people of the Wairarapa have such honorable patriotic gentlemen who can devote their whole time to look after their interests,,asiMivßunny, (ifithey did not- wish them to have salaries ? If it is necessary, and there can be no doubt it is—the majority, and.a strong majority, said it was—in order'that people should be properly|; representedj their.; ohosen should be paid, why not double the amount 1 Make li £4OO instead,of £2OO. We hear it-reiterated on alludes;by, the patriotic mob that the people can only be properly represented by the.' members/ being paid, and paid well, for their work, and in the same sentence, that the £2OO does not .pay- :expeuaes.;; Then • it is ;plear, reasoning that.,if,..the,people can only have their interests looked after by their members being paid,. of;!iti ! other -'words,' it can'only 'be 1 don'e/by me'ri, : .whn',make' politics their' living',' th'enV'W l"'said before, double it. .Then, indeed,., how .wellwe should be looked after I What should we. ; not get,for'our money ]• What legislation we should have I By doing this we cpuldrallrbeT'.epresentediby'jnem.bers such as our seniori member, who has notramnlelflto'divertithetdevbtedlatten' thenffrQ<n<ibeing-fiH JjheiMplacesiifr'oni prayeraj;\to,;!adjournment, ■■ How.; very ridiculoWit!,Tvgs,fto , etry rt'duci sth'9'

salaries in the face of such conclusive' arguments as here used by those patriotic members, Even as a mattor of honor alone-these gentlemen were: obliged; 16 take the £2oo—it had been distinctly understood between them and their constituents that they were only elected on the condition that they would take this pittance—in fact, lam sure mahyof them fully expected, to be called upon to resign if they did not dp. so. >I, as an elector, twaß"delipedHo-'Bee":Mffiun ward on this occasion. It showed that although.he is not always in his place, he is quite ready^to come forward .when .his cbiiafcifuehta' interests are at stake. He is ever watchful for them. ;;

_ I was under- the impression I had seen in election addresses" and speeches that the candidates did not believe in payments to members, others would vote for a large reduction,iand othefs;again would take it, but distribute it among: charitable institutions; but all this is wrong. It is evident I could not have 'seen it, or it could only have been those who 1 were rejected. To hear the Bcene represented that took place in the lobbies, last year, on the morning after a reduction had been made in members' salaries is heart-rending. Honorable gentlemen rushing.hither and thither,-crying,'"-What have you' done ?' Oh, that I was not there to have allowed such a precedent!" And many other things they did and said to have that resolution rescinded are distressing and humiliating to ponder on. That they should suffer for us in this way is more than man can expect, even. from, such unselfish beings as'M.H.R.'s." I have, ok, ' E,W. [Mr Bunny's vote was consistent with his public addresses prior to his election.— Ed.W.D.] ',.;