PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3894, 24 August 1891, Page 2

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

An Interesting Clause(From the Tabakaki News.) "The Payment of Members Bill" will, of a surety, be passed by Parlu--1 menfc, notwithstanding all the pledges ' of eoonomy given by members to their constituents. As we hare already stated, we do not think the sum of £240 per annum would be too much , for each member provided the finances ■ of the colony justified it. It is clear ' that, whether the colony can afford it or not, some of the members—chiefly the labor representatives— have made t np their minds to pay themselves handsomely, no matter who goes with- ' out. The selfishness of the proceeding needs no comment. We have nothing further to say on that point, bat we wish to direct attention to a clause in , the Bill which is deserving of particular notice. Clause 8 provides that "no payment under this Act shall be anticipated, nor be capable of being pledged or given in security in any way whatever, nor be liable to 6e seized or taken in any execution under any process, or attached or charged in any way, under the order of any Court whatever," We confess we are ashamed that such a clause should be incorporated in the Bill, for we consider it most degrading. Fancy a Statute law that members of Parlia. ment shall receive £2O per month, and that such moneys shall not be liable for the payment of just debts contracted by them, even for the necessaries of life! Surely Parliament has come down to a low standard when such a clause is inserted and not resented by members as an insult to them. If it means anything it means that members can evade the payment of .their yust debts. What an example in horiesty and integrity ! It is true that during the recess of Parliament a member may be adjudged a bankrupt, and he would then lose his seat, but, as a matter of fact, a clever man could evade for a long time any such adjudication. If a member is paid a salary, why should it be specially protected any more than the salary of a civil servant ? There is really no justification for such a provision in the Bill, and we must all admit with confusion of face that Parliament, by passing such a measure, will sec the people a shocking example to evade if possible the payment of their just debts. Imagine the position when a butcher, or baker, or grocer sues a M.H.8., for •• goods supplied," and is met with this defence : " That by the provisions of the * Payment of Members Act, 1891,' the honorariums of honorable members are protected against creditors." The tradesmen who supplied the M.H.B. with the necessaries of life may plead that the honorable gentleman ought to pay for them, as they kept him and his family living while he was earning his Parliamentary "screw" of £240 per annum. But such a plea would be useless, and the magistrate, while, probably, commenting on the injustice of the Act, would have to dismiss the case. We hope that before the Bill becomes law section 8 will be struck out, as it would be a blot on the statutes of the colony, and w*u)d make |us a laughing stock and a bye-word. ' If members are to receive £240 per year, they should be able to pay their debts. Parliament has managed ever since the foundation of the colony to do without such a clause, and why should it be deemed necessary now ? Yet we are asked to believe that this is the best Parliament that has ever been elected in New Zealand.