The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3970, 23 November 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1891.

The party in power still harp on that theme which was so precious to them during the late session, the payment of members. One amongst their mim • ber, and only one, was supposed to be in that unhappy condition that he could not earn money at his trade during the recess, and for his sake it was necessary to give every M.H.R. £2O per month. It is necessary for the State to disburse a sum of nearly two thousand pounds a month because a particular labour member is afraid be won't get work during the recess, or is anxious to avoid the necessity of obtaining it. Nine out of every ten labour members are known to have private means upon which they can depend when Parliament is out of session, but for fear the tenth should be on a short allowance it is necessary that the nine should have a supplementary monthly income. It is claimed that without this allowance democracy will pine away and die, and that its glorious principles will virtually collapse unless the advocates of them are well paid. It has been discovered that the bed rock principle of the party is remuneration of representatives. The Government, in their eagerness to give effect to this principle, wanted to tack an additional £SO a year on every Legislative Councillor, and why ? Simply because they intended to make two or three labourers members of the Upper House, and the labourers they proposed to honour turn up their noses at a hundred a year. Some forty or fifty Lords, who are quite satisfied with their present honorarium were to have £SO each extra for the sake of two or three labourers who were to be pitchforked amongst them. According to the way the Government are working every labour member will cost the Colony a thousand pounds a year and, of course, be cheap at that. Nobody would begrudge alabourmember, who might be out of employment during the recess, receiving a reasonable allowance. Let him apply in forma pauperis and receive ten shillings per diem, or, whatever amount will enable him to exist, but we fail to see why all M.H R.'s who do, can, and will earn money during the recess should be treated as if they were destitute. Relieve honest, audacious political poverty by all mean?, but do not give largo allowances out of the public purse to men who are enjoying I good private incomes, a free pass over [every railway in the Colony, and the run of an unlimited number of banquets.