THE FINANCIAL REFORS ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 7290, 15 August 1887, Page 3

THE FINANCIAL REFORS ASSOCIATION.

+ The ordinary weekly meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Financial Reform Association was held in the office of the secretary (Mr D. H. Hastings), Stanjardlnsurance Buildings, on Saturday evening. The president, Mr John Roberts, and about thirty members, were pre. sent. I Mr E. Melland read a paper on the seventh object of the Association, which we intend publishing in a future issue. The I'RESinENT referred to Mr Melland s paper as an excellent and ablo address, which would furnish ample matter for a very extensive and exhaustive d'scussion next week. He moved a hearty vote of thauks to tho writer of the paper.—(Applause.) The motion was adopted. MR DARLING'S PAPER. The President said the next business was the discussion of Mr Darling's paper. He might say that the paper itself was so much confined to facts that there was very little matter for discussion. He was sure the Association was very much indebted to Mr Darling for his work in drawing up that paper. As to table No. 2, showing the cost of government in this and other colonies, he (the president) had worked out the average per head in each of the colonies. New Zciland cost barely 2s a head in proportion to the population; Victoria, Is 5Jd; New South Wales, 11-Jd; Queensland, 2s UA; South Australia, Is 8d ; Tasmania, Is lid. Mr W. H. Pearson, not being able to be present, forwarded a written statement about his views as to Mr Darling's paper. He bore testimony to the value and usefulness of it. It was all the more necessary that such knowledge should bo taught tho people, as, judging from the utterances of candidates and tho reception they got from constituencies, the country had not realised the position or determined that the demoralisation which had hitherto obtained amongst electors, representatives, and Government should cease. The idea of rarty government in a Colony with an adult male population of 161,330 was simply ridiculous. There was only one party in the State-r-Self—aid its policy was Grab. It did seem a pity that men who, if allowed by their constituencies, would act impartially and wisely for the benefit of the Cqlony, were forced intp the posjtjon of political gladiators, each seeking the aggrandisement of a pnrt at the expense of the whole. Mr Lee Smith spoke in favor of the rayment to members of an adequate sum to compensate them for their lobs of time Soomr than reduce the honorarium from L2lO to Ll5O, it would be more in the interest of the country were they to advance it to an amount sufficient to place the member in an independent position. It might be slid that it would be incurring too much expense, but they might reduce the number of members by half. Then it might be objected to the higher payment of members that it would raise up professional politicians. Why not? He could not understand why the science of politics fchoulfl not be studied in the same way as any other science. He believed the country was now unanimous in desiring that the expenditure for the future be met by the revenue ; and with the exception of finishing railways, which it would bo a disgrace to leave uufi:.ished, he believed thev all intended to urge the Government to reduce the expenditure to the revenue. It would be all the more necessaiy to send to the House of Representatives men who, he again said, they must pay properly. To argue that Ll5O a year was adequate, or half adequate, to remunerate a representative was an absurdity. Mr M. Cohen pointed out that no reduction of members could take place until the next census was taken; therefore a reduction must be made in their salaries. After some further discussion, Mr Darling replied, and the meeting was brought to a close.