The Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7251, 30 June 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1887.

The following tables have been compiled from documents laid before the House of Representatives with a view of showing in a concrete form what Ministers cost the country annually. The figures relate to the actual expenditure incurred and paid out of the public Treasury in the financial year ending March 31, 1887, for salaries, travelling allowances, and expenses, inclu. ding similar allowances and expenses to Ministers' "attendants." We always supposed that the allowance of £2 2s a-day covered Ministers' expenses, but it seems that is not the case, and it is difficult therefore to understand what the allowance is granted for. The Prbmibr (Sit Robert Stout) :- Salary .. .. £1,760 0 0 Travelling allowanca and exponsen .. 465 11 2 Travelling allowance and expeneoß for attendants .. 203 11 6 The Colonial Treasurer (Sir Julius Vooel):SaUry .. .. £1,250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 171 9 7 Tiavellin? allowance and expenses for attendants . 76 11 7 The Nativk Minister (Hon. J. Ballancr): - S.Vary .. .. £1,250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 541 17 11 Travi lling allowance and expenses for at'endants .. 114 15 7 Minister for Public Works (Hon. E. Riciiarison):— Salary .. £1,250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 265 6 10 Travelling allowance and expenses for attendants .. 90 0 5 Ministkr ok Mines (Hon. W. J. M. Larkarcii) : Salary .. .. £1.250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 575 15 1 Travelling allowance and expenses for attendants .. 326 11 0 Minister of Justice (Hon. J. A. Tole) : Salary .. £1,250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 197 10 0 Travelling allowance and exponses for attenda-'s 18 2 8 Colonial Secretary (Hon. P. Buckley):— Salary .. ..£1,250 0 0 Travelling allowance and expenses .. 225 15 9 Travelling allowance and expenses for attendants .. 131 14 9 Hon. Mr Rrynolds : Travelling allowance and expenses £Bl 9 6 Travelling allowance and expenses for attendants .. 9 15 0 Total cost .. .. £12,73818 4 It will be setn that the two most expensive Ministers are the Premier and the Minister of Mines. The travelling expenses of Sir Robert Stout and his "attendants," including his "privatesecretary," amounted to £659, and those of Mr Larnagh to £902. Mr Ballancb, with friendly emulation, took £659 the exact sum taken by his chief. Sir Julius Vogel received the least, £248; a sum which is moderation itself when compared with the receipts of his colleagues. It is set down, as in extenuation, that part of the Premier's expenses were incurred "during attendance on the trial Regina v. Hall, at Christchurch," and that the Minister of Mines made a "trip through Haast Pass." The next table shows the number of days for which these allowances were claimed by each Minister, and the average cost per day

The salary paid to the Premier is £5 12s 9d per day, and that to other members £4 per day, exclusive of Sundays. When he takes his walks abroad the Premier costs the country £ll 8s 6d per day. The Minister of Public Works tops him with £l2 9s per day; but, fortunately, he does not often

travel, and so costs less in the aggregate. | For a specimen of Ministerial extravagance I this record stands unrivalled, and it is high 'i time the legislative pruning - knife were J extensively employed in lowering it. j

to the country :— Bays. Coat per Day Sir ROBBRT STOtT ~ 1H .. £5 16 9 Sir Julius Voqbd .. 75 8 6 0 Hon. Mr Ballancb .. 138 6 3 0 Ron. Mr Richardson 42 8 0 0 Hon. MrLARNACii .. 172 6 0 0 Hon. Mr Tolb - 84 2 11 0 Hon. Mr Buckley .. 68 6 8 0 Hod. Mr Reynolds.. 88 2 8 0