A RUMOUR OF FOLLY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 199, 6 August 1912, Page 4

A RUMOUR OF FOLLY.

Ocit Parliamentary gossip yesterday ] contained the following statement which is worthy of close attention “It is a matter of current rumour in the lobbies that the Budget will contain the proposal to increase the honorarium paid to members, probably by £5O, on the understanding that provision is made for an additional Minister.” It is to be hoped that when the Budget comes before the House this evening it will be found that the rumour has no foundation. If it is true that Mr. Massey intends to make this attempt we have no hesitation in saying that such an act of folly will wreck his prospects of success. The memory of the famous “£4O deal” is still green in the country, and Government had better read from tr.at incident a warning. The increase of members’ honorarioums by £5O per annum would be most unjustifiable, especially so at a time when it is necessary to exercise the greatest economy and care to place finances upon a sound footing. The people from one end of the country to the other would resent the action warmly, and if Mr. Massey does not know this he ought to. Tne payment of £3OO a year to members is ample, and it is certainly more than some of them could earn in a private capacity. We also fail to see where the necessity’ comes in for another Minister, and if the new Government suggests such an appointment it will be capable of a somersault calculated to break all records. When Sir Joseph Ward spoke of the same proposal and Mr. Mackenzie talked of the great burden of work the then Opposition Press loudly denounced the extravagance and suggested if Ministers travelled less on electioneering business they could do more work. Members of the Reform Party, also, were by no means silent upon the subject. If Mr. Massey now turns round and makes provision for another portnlio he will bring discredit upon his party. The suggestion that the new portfolio should be created to find a place for Mr. J. B. Hine is positively grotesque. He has done nothing, and is capable of doing nothing, which would entitle him to Ministerial rank, and the provision of a billet for him would not only be a shameless disregard of the people’s wish for economy, but it would also cast discredit and ridicule upon the whole party. We can only trust that the rumour is without foundation.