PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 506, 1 March 1879, Page 4

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

•>j . » - i • 'i Beforeithe electorkof New Zealand jean reasonable imprjove the personnel, of. their ltegistaturts, it is essential. that the f present unsatisfactory l \fcystem of remuneration for political services should be abolished, and a system; more in accordance with democratic instistutioits. introduced. The- voting of honorariums from session .to"- session embodies a system -of payment of members > w.h.ich todays the least, is inexpedient. If leaves the representative in the unsatis'factOrjr position of having in 'depend on Providence and the disposition of his fellow members; fur the amount he will receive. The* siifii voted ip. raocjified v 'acfcordiug to the length 'of the session and. ' ottier circumstances — such as,' cost of livjng, house 'rent, &c,— and •it is only '.[ .intended to cover the actual .espouses of i; 'Hhe member" '.while at!fViiding to his Parliamentary d'u'i ies, without allowing ihe . alighteßt. compensation for his loss of /' time. •/.' . . • .'-There are numerous , ..and' urgent reasons why provisions for payment , of. . members should be made. Representatives of the West Coast, and particularly those -who .are. isolated from the seat- of Government, either in^ consequence -.of distance' or the absence of " travelling facilities, are unable to devote the time they should to their political' duties without making considerable sacrifices. The 'late member for the Taieri spoke his mind fearlessly and honestly,r and-gave his constituents a little of the wholesome truth, when he urged as a

reason for retiring from 1 the political arena,that he was not sufficiently wealthy^ to. - give away his time and comfort fdr noth-' ing, and' that he could not afford to keep up two domestic establishments. We*, believe there are nqt a few of the, members of our House of Representatives, who could reiterate the same sentiments. -

It ia one of the peculiarities of representation ( ih- this Colony that we firid the . representative frequently holding a dual position, — acting as a paid secretary,perhaps, for some local ins'itution, while Parliament is out- 'of session, and devoting „- the remainder, of his time to his legislative

duties. Thus we. find members oscillating between' County Councils and Laud "' Boards and the House of Representatives. There time is so divided, and thleir duties .multifarious, that they cannot give v a fair amount of attention to all. Either their constituents must suffer, or the Tork' for •which they are paid cannot be properly • performed. By payment of members this might be altogether obviated. The necessity for mixing up the duties of a member of Parliament with work of an'administrative character would be dbne away with. In many places a • better class of repre-

seutatjye wpi^ld be secured, for payment would bring aspirants into the field whose circumstances would otherwise prevent them from coming forward. ' To have illpaid representatives is an unwise economy. It is *i penny wise, pound foolish policy. If members are not paid they will, generally contrive by some .dexterous means to pay themselves. Fortunately, there is no very i i-rainent danger in the way of the introduction by the Ministry 'of a scheme of payment of members.' Such a proposition will hardly,_disturb or imperil the connection of the Colony with Great Britain, and it will' scarcely induce the Marquis of Normanby to .take hi? seat in the House of Lords for the,, purpose of making a shocking example of New Zealand. Seeing, therefore, that' a measure

for Payment of Members may be under-

taken with safety, and that it is so "essential to the improvement of our representative system, we trust the Ministry, w.ill have no hesitation in including ii in their shedule of reforms. —Dunedin " Age.!'