THE PREMIER'S EXPENSES.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 10064, 16 June 1898, Page 6

THE PREMIER'S EXPENSES.

TO THB EDITOR OF THE PRB3S. Sir,—That "little bill" of Mr Seddon's is occasioning a good deal of curiosity at the moment, and for the benefit of those interested I append extracts shoeing what it cost the colony to send the Premier to Hobart and England respectively :— Expenses at Conference of Premiers at Tagmania, Conference of Postmasters-General at Victoria, and visit t3 South Australia and New South Wales. £ Premier's expenses paid out of imprest and exclusive of amount spent out of private means ... ... ... 211 Two secretaries' travelling allowances 90 Payment for rooms for offices ... 40 Payment for cables on public business 60 Cab-hire and transport luggage ... 20 Steamer fares ... ... ... 40 Cash for procuring opossums for acclimatisation ... ... ... 20 Incidental expenses, porterage, and gratuities ... ... ... 37 Total ... .. ... £518 LONDON TRIP. {Not including amount paid by Imperial Government for Premier's expenses at Hotel Cecil) :— £ Fares and transport of luggage ... 790 Gratuities on steamers and trains and at hotela ... ... ... 120 Hotel expenses ... ... ... 210 Advance for Contingent ... ... 20 Postages and sitting-rooms... . ... 100 1,240 Balance .«. .- ... 510 Total ... ... ... 1,750 Total for both trips ... £2,268 A very nice "little bill." Tell mo the man who could not represent New Zealand as well and as ably at any function in the universe on such allowances ! The London trip cost as much to our small colony as did those of three Premiers from Australia. But I forgot. We must not forget that having "given" his services) to the colony, the colony owed Mr Seddon something in the way* of gratitude, but he wanted " nothing , " —vide Mr Seddon—mark please, he got "nothing." Verily, to be Premier of New Zealand is not a bad position to hold.—Yours, ice, L. S. D.