PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 5

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION. REDUCTION VOTES LOST. (By Cable,—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, August 15. In the House of Commons yesterday, when the resolution regarding payment of members was brought forward, the Opposition moved to reduce the payment, firstly, by a lump sum, and, secondly, from £4OO to £3OO a year The legality of the Government proceeding to secure the payment by resolution instead of by bill was questioned Mr Lloyd George said the Government had proceeded by resolution, preferring an annual discussion, instead of making the principle rigid bv Act The vote was passed, after several amendments had been negatived

The payment of members of the House of Commons is the revival of an old principle. In England payment of members was the custom for nearly four hundred years, and only came to an end in the sixteenth century because, owing to the rise in prices of commodities, the salary was not worth taking. During the reign of Edward 11. it was arranged "that for the due payment of members of their fees and wages, the payment be at the rate, by the day, of 4/ to each knight of the shire and 2/ for each citizen." jie.isonable charges for journeying to un.l from Westminster were also included, and "the Sheriffs and Mayors were charged with the duty of raising ti o sums required to satisfy the members' claims. From this it will be seen ihat the -burden fell on the shoulders of the constituencies. In those days 2/ probably had a purchasing value of fbout a sovereign of to-day's coinage. Many of the constituencies were by no iiiea'is satisfied that they were getting their money's worth, and they proceeded to cut down their representative's salary. The Corporation of Canterbury reduced tne salary of Mr. John Mailing, one of 'ts members, from 2/ to 1/ a day while Parliament was sitting. In other divisions the sitting member had to be content with an occasional distribution of nifr chandise, contributed by his mor; generous and enthusiastic supporter?; while at Dunwich Sir John Strange was tuntent to accept as sole remuneration half a barrel of herrings. At a later o-r.'io.l the price of political services improve. l , and tlie fee rose to 5/ a day. and in joma few instances to as much as 10/ :i day. The enhanced salary, however, iavricd with it additional obligations, the member being liable to the infliction of pain? and penalties if he neglected his Parliamentary duties. The Knights of 1 lie eiiire of Gloucester and Oxford wye punished for failing to perform their legislative tasks. The defaulting was by no means on one side only. The constituencies had not yet learned the art of maintaining a well-filled political war chest, and at times the Parliamentary mr mber was driven to the unhappy alternative of having to sue his supporters for his salary.