Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913. FOR SERVICES RENDERED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8744, 18 December 1913, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1913. FOR SERVICES RENDERED.

The adverse criticism levelled at the proposal of a number of! members of Parliament that the Government should introduce legislation to provide for the payment of pensions to Parliamentar-1 ians who have served for a certain period, seems to have acted as, a quietus to the scheme, .which in reality had nothing to recommend it. But as a matter of fact, an even worse practice on similar lilies is in vogue, and numerous precedents appear to have incorporated it as part of the legislative procedure of the New. Zealand Parliament. We" refer to the custom of voting sums of money to the relatives of those members who pass away after having served the country to the best oil their .ability. On sentimental grounds, something can be said for the practice. From a practical business point of view, it is bad in principle and bad in effect; And if the business of the country is to be carried out on sentimental lines, then i that fact should be made plain. The great majority of men who enter Parliament do so as the veriest novices.in tie;aft of politics, either as ; a science of exigencies or from the broader aspect of its relation to the public welfare, and frequently without] the slightest knowledge of finance, economics^, or social problems. They at orice attain to an annual salary that ho private firm would pay for untrained services, and for six months in the year are free to pursue their, ordinary business and so add to their income. They have certain perquisites that ordinary individuals do not enjoy, and, as a rule, "they float very pleasantly along the stream of life. It is true that calls are made upon them by various institutions in their constituencies; but these are not as great as many people believe is the case, and probably the sum total of their gifts is seldom as great as are those of individuals in less exalted^positions. Yet, after many years oi comparative affluence, it <>. is found that, when the last call comes, either through over-kindliness or the neglect of their private business in the service of >the State, their relations are left unprovided for, and a kindly Government, following on- well-worn precedent, softens the blow that fate has dealt by the provision of an iteni on the Supplementary Estimates. Now, the direct effect of this practice is to weaken the sense of responsibility, and to throw upon the State a burden that it is not its duty to bear. If the private business of a member of Parliament is suffering^ through his devotion to public duties, the obvious course is to' free 'himself from ties that ohamper him in the essential duty of. life—providing for iliose dependent upon him. It is a sacrifice without merit that ;is merely vicarious, and; it is one that ;the public does not ask^of--its representatives.' The logic of the position is that when a man offers his services as a member of HPa?- ---! lianiesrit the act is purely voluntary, and if he finds that it is not satisfactory from a pecuniary point of view he should retire. The State is not concerned whether the honorarium is adequate or inadequate for the services rendered, the principle being that citizenship imposes responsibilities that are not definable in pounds, shillings, and pence. A pension scheme to which members contributed would be infinitely preferable to this practice of making good the deficiencies of those members who put their sense of duty to the State before their duty to themselves.