The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1909. THE PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 543, 25 June 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1909. THE PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Is New Zealand the payment of mem- ' bers, of Parliament has pome to be regarded as' so much tho normal and natural thing that we practically never hear a voice raised against the prinoiple nowadays. In Great Britain, however, tho State docs not pay that particular kind of patriotism which shows itself in a desire to assist in shaping the affairs of the nation 'Chore is) a growing feeling, however, in tho, British Parliament that Great Britain should in this matter fall into lino with other countries, and a resolution affirming the principle was carried on May 12 after an interesting little debate* It is shocking, but it is nevertheless a fact, that there are some very strong arguments against tho theory that this js ono o,f the questions which New Zcajanc], to use a well-known phrase, "solved long ago." The loading argument in favour of rewarding tho men who are sufficiently interested in their country's welfare to fight their way into ite supreme council is to the effect that unless men are paid for their -work in Parliament, Parjiarncnt will be the executive of Uio wealthy classes. Tho non-payment of members, to quote one of the speakers in the recent Houso of Commons debate, ''limits tho area of bclection and obliges constituencies to take their candidates from tho wealthy and leisured classes." This is truo enough to a certain extent. The area of selection is limited, although not so soriously as might be thought. But it is a littlo difficult to see how it can be asserted that "the wealthy and leisured classes" contain no representatives of any infornsta but tho special interests of tho hcaitlcss amongst the rich. In the present House of Commons, for jnfafcanre, c\cry living political creed is rrprrscntnd Mn. AsQirnii, Mr. Lloyd-Giorou, Sir Edward Gkey, Mn, M'KtNNA, Mr. r GuUttCHILL, 1L&- OVidlOßE—ail thesp

are men of wealth' and 'leisure. The leading Socialists in' Groat Britain include rich men amongst their ranks—Socialists who would be men of leisure if they did not work hard for their cause. Wealth does not, in any country, mould : men's minds jnto one shape. The present .state of the House o'f Commons—the most Radical House for many years—is the best answer to {-he contention t.hat the nonpayment of members would lead to tho I non-representation of the' Ices wealthy classes of. the community. A v man docs not require to bo poor and out-of-work to hpld extremely Itadical views. There are other pleas, of course, for the payment of members. Mr. Hakcouht, who spoko in the debate for the Government, brought forward the chief of these. Personally lie. was a warm advocate of payment of members; "H o could not see why politics should be the only profession Which could be run by unpaid amateurs. . .. . Public service deserved', public pay." With respect to the second clause of this ploa, the answor given to it by Sin W. Bull is interesting: "If members of ; ■ ?4 r liafflent were paid, why nqt also members, of county councils, borough councils, and urban district councils? Consorvatqrs, parish councillors, and poor law ■guardians would also naturally claim to be paid. Throughout thi» country,- therej fore, there would be.500,000 persons to be paid,, which would moan an expenditure of £25,000,000.'' Tbp.'chief..merit of the British system—it naturally points out the chief vice of the system of paid Parliaments—is jtg conseryaticfl of the tradition of voluntary service to the country. Few would venture tojafnrm that the sysfen) qf paying members of Parliament hasjpd to the the standard of polftips in this country, while, many would affirm, the contrary. It would be doplor- . able'if the absence of an honorarium kept out of Parliament men whose advice sand assistance would be of value to.the nation, and. this consideration Ijas been an imjnflHencc wit-K those who favour payment. But is it not equally doplo'r-' .able that the payment of. an honorarium sliouldlead to the presence in Parliament of men who have no valuable ideas and no real knowledge of political principles'! Constituericies do not always return the man who-is best fitted to do goocj work for the. country, and in this respect the■ matter can; be considered quite apart from,party for as often as not tb* most anitftblo Gover !)m c n t or most .suitable Opposition candidate; |p the field •i?\;npt chosen, ;. N ew . Zealand ' is"-.not at all -likely to depart from the existinq ;systnm-of :paid mpinbers, and it would probably bo an unwi EP step to attempt to do so. Rut iicjiangp in the direction'pi' the Raynioiit of members of the Hoijsc of Commons, might come at any time, and the result would probably, be not so much a change •, in., tho, way' /O f "new • parties or- m thepranurtiuns ;of 'the .existing parties as inthccalibre p.f : t))Q m §C nt therp, to,represent t! M FTO plc. ,It is open to grave doubt whether that.change would bo for the better, ■. : ' •