POLITICAL PENSIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXV, Issue XXXV, 18 January 1902, Page 4

POLITICAL PENSIONS.

It is a pleasing reflection (writes Mr Lucy to the ' Sydney Morning Herald ') that whenever a change in Ministry comes involving loss of salary the wind will be tempered to at least two shorn lambs. Both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for India having found it possible to make tbe necessary declaration of comparative poverty, have for many years been in receipt of a political pension under the Act of 1869. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach was put on the list on April 5, 1888, receiving a second-class pension of £1200 a year. Lord George Hamilton, taking time by the forelock, obtained a pension of £2000 a year on the eve of the general election of 1892, which for a time placed the desirable gift beyond the reach of Lord Salisbury. Of course, these pensions are not payable whilst the boneficiaries are drawing salary as Ministers of tbe Crown. Before Lord Salisbury's Government was reconstructed Lord Cross magnanimously beld the Privy Seal without salary. That looked very well, shining as a bright example to other more sordid men who insisted upon having a salary before undertaking to serve their country. The fact is Lord Cross has been on the pension list since New Tear's Day, 1887. He drew £2,000 a year from the public exchequer, and might take it either in meal or in malt. If be drew £2,000 a year quarterly, the ÜBual salary of the Lord Privy Seal, he must forego identical payment from tbe political pension fund. He discreetly secured the unique position of sitting in the Cabinet Council tbe only unpaid Minister, whilst his £5,000 a year was punctually paid from the politi cal pension office. The department haß its comedy and its trageey. The first was supplied in the case of Mr Charles Yilliers, who, having for 30 years draw his pittance of £1,200, died leaving a colossal fortune. The second papers in the case of poor Lord Iddeeleigb, who, having been shelved with a peerage and a pension of £2,000 a year, lived to draw from the fund only £955 0a 9d. There is true pathos in that ninepence. ,

A REMARKABLE CURE IN DUNEDIN.