"An Insatiable Greed.

The unhappy exhibition of greed, as evidenced by the national purse affair, was a major operation. Let us consider a minor financial operation indicating a similar love of pelf. The facts relating to the following transaction were laid before the House as late as July 28th, 1905, during the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill. Under section 4 of the Civil List Act, Ministers, whilst travelling within the colony on public service, shall be entitled to an allowance not exceeding thirty shillings a day for each day they shall be so engaged. On the 7th May, 1904, the S.S. Hinemoa left Wellington for her annual inspection of the northern lighthouses. The Premier was not in first-class health at the time, and to get fit for the approaching session he decided to take the trip in the Hine-moa, accompanied by several members of his family and by Dr Valintine, a medical officer of the Health Department. He left Wellington on May 7th, and returned in the Hine-moa on June 21st. The legal allowance of 30s a day that Ministers are entitled to draw whilst absent from Wellington on the public service is for hotel expenses, etc. During this health and pleasure jaunt in the colony's steamer, extending over 46 days, the Premier and his friends were at no expense for hotel, etc. The taxpayer paid the cost of both food and lodging for the whole party, including Dr Valintine's salary, and despite this, the Premier could not resist the temptation to seize the 30s a-day allowance, and was actually paid £69 of the colony's money.

He was probably acting within his legal rights and defended the transaction because he said it was legal. Assuming that like Shylock he only seized his legal pound of flesh, would not the tax-payer if he was as greedy as was the Premier in this instance, be justified in saying to him: Well, at least you shall refund to the Treasury the expense the country incurred for the board and lodging of yourself and family during the time you were using our steamer and supplies.

In replying, the Premier made a halting effort to claim that he transacted some public business at each of the harbours the Hinemoa visited, or, at least, sufficient to justify the payment of the £69: In reply to which puerile and transparent sophisty it may be said that even if he did receive or despatch a telegram or letter at any of these places he was handsomely paid for it because he was drawing his salary of £1600 a year at the very time he clutched the £69 referred to.