PAYMENT OF MEMBERS BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1025, 22 July 1871, Page 8

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS BILL.

Mr J. C. BROWN moved the third reading of the above Bill. The Hon. Mr HOLMES said the question arose whether they had the power now to alter a decision arrived at on a previous occasion. Before the Estimates were brought down, the Superintendent requested by message that a decision should be arrived at as to the amount to be paid as honorarium to honourable mpm^ers, in order that it should be fixed by Ordinance. After full debate it had been decided to fix the payment at 15s per diem. He questioned whether it was competent now for the Council to alter that decision by providing in this Bill that the amount should be "any sum not exceeding 20s per diem." He would put it to the Provincial Secretary whether it was competent to alter that decision. The SPEAKER pointed out that such a question should be submitted to him for his decision. The Hon. Mr HOLMES moved as an amendment, "That the Bill should bo read that day six months." The amendment was lo3t on a division by 17 to 11. The following is the division list: Ayes — Messrs Allan, Basstian, Bathgate, Car-gill (teller), Cutten, Daniel, Duncan, Galbraith, Green, Holmes, Turnbull (teller). Noes. — Messrs Armstrong, Barton, Blacklock, Brown J. C. (teller), Browne G. F. O, Henderson, Hickey, Hutcheson, Lumsden (teller /; Mervyn, M* Arthur, M'Kenzie, Robertson, Shepherd, Smith, Thomson, Webster. There paired : Mr Reynolds for, and Mr Bastings against the amendment There also paired Mr Haughton for, and Mr Reid against, the amendment. The Hon. Mr HOLMES then submitted, as a point of order, whether the former resolution of the Council could be altered by the present Bill. The SPEAKER said that the House had already decided that the payment should be fixed at 153 per diem. A provision was now inserted in the Bill before the Council that the payment should be fixed at a sum not exceeding 20s per diem for country members, and 10s for town members. His ruling was that that provision did not alter the resolution previously agreed to. The BUI was then read a third time, and passed.