“SALVING THE CONSCIENCE."

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6311, 11 September 1907, Page 7

“SALVING THE CONSCIENCE."

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir, the heading ’"Salving the Conscience,” you draw a comparison between the recent action of the Federal Parliament and that of our own Parliament in 1800 and 1901. In closing, you say—referring to members of our Parliament, 1899-1902—“ Some .... gave away the increase to worthy local objects,” and "one or two paid back the amount into the consolidated fund. But none of them looked upon the largess as tainted when the second year came round.” If by that you mean that from the passing of the Payment of Members Bill (November, 1901) to the close of the Parliament in November, 1902, all the members accepted and retained for their own use the £5 per month extra granted by the Act you are in error. I would willingly let bygones be bygones, but to silence for good and all the sneer of the cynic, I would like you to make public the simple fact that because I felt that I had agreed with my constituents to servo them in Parliament for a period of three, years, or a lesser period, at a salary of £240 per annum, I returned to the public ac-, count the £4O bonus contained in the Estimates of 1800, and continued to return the monthly excess (.£) granted by the Act of 1901 till the close of the Parliament, my last redeipl being dated November sth, 1902. In all, I returned to the public account £B9 IDs 2d, retaining sufficient to pay the income tax occasioned by the receipt of the honorarium, and petty exes, for cheque, forms, etc. I was not alone in acting thus, and certainly had no thought of propitiating the electors, as I had announced my intention not to contest the seat again long before the £lO bonus was carried.—l am, etc., , JOHN HUTCHESON. September 9th.