EVENING SITTING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7914, 1 December 1887, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. HONORARIUM BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Act Amendment Bill. He said it had been introduced to':give effect to what he believed to be the wish of the country and of the House. Members of the House were to receive £150 instead of gOO guineas per session, and Legislative Councillors £100 instead of ' 200 guineas. Mr Fish opposed the reduction as tending to throw the representation into the hands of the richer classes. If the times had suited he would have proposed to increase the sum to £300 per session. He moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Sir Buchanan said that the feeling in his district was wholly in favor of some such measure. Mr Walker said the amended Representation Bill ought to be considered first, and they ought to know whether the number of members was going to be reduced. The Premier said the Representation Bill was ready, and he intended to have the number reduced to 70 it he could sany it. % Mr Walker sincerely hoped it would sever be carried, and announced his intention 1 of opposing both that and the present measure at every stage. Mr Samuel did not like the idea of the "eduction, but he thought they ought to let a good example by cutting clown their >wn salaries before 'they interfered with ihose of others; Mr Moss said he had fought the subject •ut at the recent election, and had steadily esisted all attempt* to make him pledge limself to a reduction of the hpnorarinm. le considered the amount now paid none 00 large. Mr Fish withdrew his amendment. Mr Peacock was in favor of the lull. Sir Julius Yogel said he could not ilame the Government for introducing his measure after the. strong expression f opinion at the recent elections, bnt he

I saw no reason why its operation should extend beyond the term of the present Parliament. Sir Julius spoke strongly in favor of fair payment to members, which he would fix at, say, £300 a year. This would prevent anch haste as wrfl now evinced by members to' get awaj 1 even though it was notorious that there wits a large number of bills of the utmost im ; portance yet to be considered: Mr Seddon proposed an amendment to the effect that while it was desirable to reduce the amount of the honorarium on the estimates by 25 per cent., it was not necessary to interfere with the Act or proceed with the bill under discussion further this session. He avowed that he considered he had a right to be remunerated for his services, and he ha-1 told his constituents so. He did not find that the amount now paid left any profit. . Mr Fraser and Mr Steward supported the second reading, the latter explaining that lie would be in favor of restricting ft to this Parliament. Captain Russell said he was not in favor of any payment at all, but lit most £iOO ought to be enough". He objected to giy* ing a large amount, on the ground that it would encourage professional politicians; It would be most unjust to curtail the salaries in Government department?, and not touch the honorarium. Hs did not agree with the distinction made between the two Houses in the bill. Sir Julius Yogel said there was a difficulty in dealing With the old and the new . members, and he thought it would be better not to apply the bill to this session. Sir George. Grey called th« bill a retrogressive measnre. He would do his hes to have it confined to the present Parliament. It Mas not the only measure or proceeding of late in a retrogade direc- -~ tion. • , - Mr Reeves (St. Albans), pleaded for . some consideration for the new members, pointing out that the old members, would lose only £6 this session, while tbe.'-new members wonld be docked £60. At the same time he recognised in the state of . the country that members must make some sacrifices as well as other people. Speaking generally, he was sure' the democracy of the country did not Wish to reduce the honorarium, and throw the" representation into the hands of the rich. Mr Buxton said the country did not'demand the reduction proposed, and it was . not expected of members. He had pro- ; raised his constituents above alt things to opposeit. „ ' . ' Mr Withy held that wealth was no qualification for' a legislator, and the honorarium should be no inducement to bring meninto the House. Two hundred, guineas was too high. He thought Parliamenttried to do too much work which ' ought to be done locally. Mr Turnbnll thought they should not deal with the bill until the amended Representation Bill was settled. * It would ' be much better to deduct, say, 25 per cent, from the' honorarium this year, and leave legislation on the subject till next session, Mr Bruce supported the second reading ~> in consequence. of the financial state of the colony, but not because the ■ salary , was too much. , - - ■ Mr M'Keirae (Waiherao) thought the bill should be limited to the 'present Parliament. Mr Kere supported 'the amendment. Mr Marchant considered they: were bound to accept' the lower sum, but he would like to see the Representation Bill before them first.. " • Mr Richardson (Kaiapoi) favored the restriction of thfpbill's operation to this Parliament. Mr Thompson (Marsden), Mr Mills, and Mr Thompson- (Auckland West) supported • the bill. ; • ■ Mr Levestaiu was entirely opposed to the measure, for which he could see no necessity. ■ ."','''"'- Mr Richaid Beeves (Inangahua) ob- ■ jected to the bill applying to the present session. He wanted to know whether other salaries were going to be reduced to the same extent? He jntended to vote '. against the second reading^'' '".',■ Mr Ward pointed oat that, under the Act the Wellington members only got < £140, and now they would .have £150. . The new members were "-treated nnfairly '■ as far as this session was, concerned. The whole reduction would. only amount to a thousand pounds. He would vote. against the bill. " -■:'.-'- Mr Taiwhanga said ho had no fault to find with the reduction. Mr Jones said he* had' given a pledge which caused him to support the.measure with some reservation. Mr Taylor, Mr Taipua, Mr Blake, and Dr. Newman spoke in support of the bjll, ' and Mr Pratt against it. . ■■ • A division was taken on Mr Seddon's amendment, which was lost by 56 to H, and the. biil was read a second time on the voices. • ' - The House rose at 1.12 a.m. 1 .-.■/•