"THE FORTY-POUNDS STEAL."

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 103, 29 October 1900, Page 4

"THE FORTY-POUNDS STEAL."

»_^ — > The city of Wellington has reason to be proud of its two senior members. Throughout the past session they did solid work in a quiet, persistent way. Mr. Hutcheson's Parliamentary experience, and his intimate acquaintance with the Premier's- methods, enabled him to perform thoroughly the" critical functions of an Opposition member. Mr. Atkinson again and again proved his legal acumen in the important points he raised, while Government measures were in Conwmittee. ,On Jnpre than one occasion the Premier scornfully rejected his suggestions, presumably for the sole reason that they emanated from the Opposition side' of the House, but was 1 ultimately obliged to adopt them by means t of either » an amendment in the Legislative Council or a Governor's message. In 'fact, no intelligent observer could doubt that kome of the best Parliamentary performances of the session were those of Messrs. Hutcheson and Atkinson, who were ably aided in their efforts by the indefatigable miemiber for Palmerston. Even more valuable than their practical work was the spirit of unswerving rectitude which inspired thejir public conduct. In these days, when political jobbery and "logroUing" are fast becoming the order of the day, when from winking at them as venial sins our politicians are learning to regard them as an integral and honour- \ able feature of the game, it is highly satisfactory to find some men, however f^w in number, who rigidly adhere to the older principles of public morality. Messrs. Hutcheson and Atkinson have onee 1 more proved their right to be classed among this little band by their absolute refusal to avail themselves of the £140 bonus which they, in common with so many private citizens outside the dangerous fording-house of politics, rightly hold to' have been improperly granted to legislators. The history of, that degrading vote has fortunately been published far j and wide throughout the colony, and no respectable journal has dared to flout pub1 lie opinion" by taking up the cudgels in its defence. Ministerialist organs like the Lyttelton Times and the Auckland Star have joined in the general denunciation. It ia freely recognised that, however advisable it may have been to raise the honbrarium of members, the way in which the Premier proceeded to effect this end was utterly indefensible, and as discreditable to the members who acquiesced j in it as to the Government which planned I it. Parliamentary support to the increase in the number and emoluments of Ministers, and also to the "Agfc for the Suppression of the Auditor-General" officially known as the Public Revenues .^cts Amendment Act, was improperly secured by the promise of this £40 bonus, and the worst of the matter is that the Government can in future determine how much is to be placed on the 'Estimates as rewards for members, for Judges, and for other State officers, who have hitherto drawn, and should, for 1 the sake of public propriety, always draw fixed statutory salaries. By refusing to reap any personal advantage from these unconstitutional proceedings, Messrs. Hutcheson and Atkinson have entered ngainst them the strongest protest in their power, and we sincerely hope to hear soon of other honourable legislators having acted in a limilar manner,