MINISTERS' EXPENSES AND "AL LOWANCES."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 8 April 1899, Page 2

MINISTERS' EXPENSES AND "AL LOWANCES."

\. good deal of discussion is going on just now as to the amount that is drawn by Mm isters, in the shape of allowances and ex- ( [lenses, when they are absent from the seat < A Government. It appears that vouchers : have to be furnished by Ministers for all "expenses" to h hich they are put, and fie • umount is then recovered from the Treasury ; but in addition to such expenses, every Minister has an "allowance" of thirty shillings a day over and above his salary, for which ■no vouchers are required, the payment being made upon the number of days he is absent from Wellington. To settle the question as to what amount Minisers actually draw in the shape of expenses, and allowances, the Christchurch Press has prepared and published from the Blue Books such actual facts and figures as are there recorded on the subject. For tho information of our readers we reproduce the tables, with accompanying comments thereon, from our Christchurch contemporary:— ( From' 31st March, 1893, to 31st March 1894.

Allow- Ex- I Minister. nnce. pen^cs. Tl. |

I Tbtal ' ... 1079 951 2030 The Hon. Mr Montgomery only charged his bare fare. His proper example was lost on his colleagues. From 31st March, 1894, to 31st March, 1895. I

Total £1213 £1916 £3129 This includes the cost of conveyance, cabs and coach. and steamer fares of Minister's secretaries, and also the conveyance of the Ministerial party in the Urewera Country. Mr Carroll was absent 199 days from Wellington, and, Parliament was 126 days in session. From 31st March, 1895, to 31st March, 1896. £ £ £

Total £1002 £1156 £2159 Messrs. Reeves and Montgomery and Sir P. Buckley retired from the Ministry during the year, and Messrs. Walker, Hall-Jones and Thompson joined the Ministry. Froni 31st March, 1896, to 31sfc March, 1897, including Mr. Seddun's Hobart trip (£578).

Total ... £1038 £1566 £2604 In the next table we shall include the ■ Jubilee trip, but not Mr. Crowe's expenses which were charged to the Post Office Account : — From 31st March 1897, to 31st March, .1898.

Total £998 £2731 £3729 Mr. Scddon has drawn, therefore, since he became Premier, in travelling expenses and allowances £5119 13s sd. Cabs must be pretty dear in New Zealand - It is true that this sum includes for one year fares paid for his secretary, but we suppose £25 would cover that expense. If we deduct the Jubilee and Hobart trip expenses, there is still left £2841 13s 5d- If we leave out tho £1 10s per dav. we have, excluding the Hobart and Julfjlee trips, for cabs and faces £2135 8s 5d ! Who will say after tliis tfcit, thousrh Mr. Scddon has had free travel oi> the railways and free travel on Government steamers, that cabs are not expensive ?

I £ £ £ Hon. R. J. Seddon ... 205 305 510 Hon. J. G. Ward ... 206 165 371 Hon. Sir P. Buckley... 58 93 151 Hon. J. M'Kenzie ... 202 122 325 Hon. A. J. Cadman ... 130 78 209 Hon. W. P.-Reeves ... 91 45 137 Hon. J. Carroll ... 130 67 198 Hon. J. Ballance ... S4 32 86 Hon. W. Montgomery — 2 2 Joint Expenses ... — • 37 371

I £ £ £ Hon Mr Seddon 225 887 1142 Hon Sir P. Buckley... 58 119 178 Hon J. G. Ward ... 223 179 402 Hon J. M'Kenzie ... 195 278 473 Hon W. P. Reeves ... 121 106 227 Hon A. J. Cadman ... 82 50 133 Hon J. Carroll ... 298 287 585 Hon W. Montgomery 9 4 13 Joint expenses ... — 3 3

Hon. Mr Seddon ... 133 440 574 Hon. J. M'Kenzie ... 213 264 477 Hon. W. P. Reeves ... 73 63 137 Hon. J. 6. Ward ... 162 128 290 Hon. Sin. P. Buckley ... 69 97 161 Hon. A. J. Ciidman ... 159 88 247 Hon. J. Carroll ... 178 60 239 Hon. W: C. Walker ... 13 4 17 Hon. Mr Hall- Jones ... — 1 1 Hon. T. Thompson ... — 5 5 Hon. W. Montgomery — 3 3

£ £ £ Hon. Mr. Seddon ... 117- 883 1001 Hon. Mr. Ward 97 105 203 Hon. Mr. M'Kenzie ' 156 177 333 Hon. Mr. Cadmaii ... 148 113 262 Hon. Hall- Jones ... 48 50 98 : Hon.' Mr. Thompson 19rf 47 247 Hon. Mr. Walker ... 160 67 228 Hon. Mr. Oiurbll ... 109 120 230

£ £ £ Hon. Mr. Seddon ... 4 1886 1890 Hon. Mr.-M'Kenzie 132 241 373 Hon. Mr. Cudinan 180 92 272 Hon.. Hall- Jones 183 133 316 Hon. Mr. Thompson 139 86 225 Hon. Mr. Walker ... 153 79 418 Hon. Mr. Carroll ...:.." 206 212 418