PAID PUBLIC MEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 4

PAID PUBLIC MEN.

A question of more than local importance was raised in one of the local Bills dealt with by the House of Representatives last Thursday. Tho Bill was a Canterbury College Empowering Bill, one clause of which authorised the payment of an honorarium of not more than £200 a year to the chairman of the Board of Governors of tho College. The Minister for Education, Mn. Fowlds, very properly objected to the clause on the ground that it went in the direction of establishing " professional chairmanships" of public bodies, and the House endorsed his view by excising the objectionable proposal. The public can feel only hearty satisfaction that a proposal so hostile to the public interest was given short shrift. If it had • passed the clause, the House would have conceded the right of every chairman of a public body to be paid for his services. When one takes into account the enormous share which our public men outside Parliament hold in the government of the country, one can realise the vast importance of having the best of our citizens at the head of the local bodies and institutions. Nobody wishes to see the work of " local government" turned into a profession, and chairmanships converted into salaried posts. To secure capablo men for the chief positions in the'government of local bodies and institutions, however, it is not necessary to offer money. On the contrary, it is necessary to avoid allocating cash rewards to patriotism and civic enthusiasm. There was never a time 'when the need was greater than it is now for the cultivation of publicspiritcdness in the citizens of this country. It is not"merely that life is being more and more dominated by the " cash basis." There are at work forccs making for the destruction of the- " public spirit" that has made British civilisation what it is. The very first result that would follow from the payment of the posts that are now " posts of honour " would be a complete change in the character of the men now holding those offices. If a certain Bcction of tho Labour leaders

and the Socialists had their way, patriotism- and a desire to serve the community would disappear from our people. Public-spiritedncss, patriotism, and self-sacrifice are qualities worth preserving, and how can they be preserved, for exhibition by our public men, when the old incentives of honour and duty are replaced by the desire for financial gain 1 The chairman of the Canterbury College Board of Governors is far from satisfied with the action of the House, and in a long letter to the Christchurch Press he goes into statistics to show the amount of work which he has had to do, and the cash extent of the interests under the Board's care. He continues: " Members of Parliament receive honoraria, Mr. Fowlds himself draws a very handsome salary, the Superintendents and Provincial Executives were paid for their services, Bishops vcccivc large emoluments as well as honour. On what principle can it therefore bo laid_ down that the man who serves the public in another important position, and has very large responsibilities, should be compelled to sacrifice his own health and the interests of his family for the honour of public service 1" The Chairman has his remedy: he can resign from his position. There are still men willing to make the sacrifice, and glad to do it. Ministers of the Crown and Bishops are paid because they give their whole time to their work; they are paid because Ministerial duties or episcopal duties make up their settled occupation. Chairmen of public bodies and institutions are presumed to have accepted their chairmanships as patriotic hobbies. Ancl it will be an evil day for this country when serving the public is no longer a hobby or a matter oi duty, but something to sell for cash.