South Australia - Politics
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There must be here less of Downing-Street regime; more of democratic influence. But to this effort the people must rouse themselves to political action. A false autocracy may sink this colony to perdition, but democratic institutions may elevate it to the very highest point of power and felicity.
(Adelaide Times, 26 June 1851, page 3b.)
- Country Party
- Elections
- Labo(u)r Party
- Legislative Council
- Liberalism and Conservatism (includes obituaries)
- Miscellany
- Morality in Parliament
- Party Politics
- Payment of Members
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Republicanism
- Socialism
Payment of Members
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When payment of members was introduced originally there was no intention to include in its scope salaries to "Hon" members of the Upper House, and the subsequent indecent grabbing of the same remuneration as that provided for members of the Assembly was due to the vote of one wealthy man, who failed to see why he should be out of the grab, although he posed as one of the strongest and most uncompromising of Conservatives.
(Advertiser, 26 March 1930, page 19d.)
This subject is discussed in the Register,
13 and 28 January 1857, pages 3f and 3b,
19, 28 and 30 May 1857, pages 3d, 3g and 3f,
6 August 1857, page 2d,
21, 23, 26 and 29 September 1857, pages 2d, 3g, 3g and 2e-3d,
9 October 1857, page 3f,
22 December 1859, page 2g,
Observer,
31 December 1859, page 6d,
Register,
6 and 23 March 1860, pages 2g and 3a,
21 February 1865, page 2d,
12 September 1867, page 3e,
9 October 1867, page 2c,
25 September 1868, page 2g,
Advertiser,
1 March 1869, page 2f,
17 June 1875, page 2c,
15, 16 and 25 October 1877, pages 6c, 3g and 7a.
"The Ministerial Salaries" is in the Register,
28 and 31 July 1860, pages 2f and 2h,
19 and 29 August 1863, pages 2b and 2e.
Also see Register,
16 June 1875, page 5b,
20 December 1877, page 4e,
22 May 1879, page 4c,
30 May 1879 (supp.), page 1f,
5, 6 and 18 June 1879, pages 2c (supp.), 6g and 6f,
30 November 1880, page 4d,
31 December 1880, page 4g,
3 January 1881, page 7,
16 and 22 March 1881, pages 4d and 7b,
25 and 27 June 1881, pages 4e and 2b (supp.),
14 July 1881, page 5b,
Advertiser,
14 July 1881, page 4d.
Also see Register,
16 August 1883, page 4e,
4 March 1884, page 7c,
28 and 29 July 1884, pages 7f and 6g,
1, 12, 14, 16, 26 and 28 August 1884, pages 5a, 7c, 4d, 6h, 6g and 4f,
26 September 1884, page 4d,
6, 16, 21 and 28 October 1884, pages 7c, 4h, 7d and 7h,
5 and 7 November 1884, pages 5g and 4h,
16, 17, 20, 23 and 30 July 1885, pages 4e, 4g, 7a, 7f and 4f,
4, 11 and 18 August 1885, pages 7c, 7h and 7c,
10 and 12 September 1885, pages 4e and 7a,
10 March 1886, page 7c:
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The rejection of the [Bill] in the Legislative Council shows that the wealthy portion of South Australia will at all hazards hold the governing of the colony and, if possible, debar a man of small means from entering parliament...
Also see The Lantern,
1 August 1885, page 1,
12 September 1885, page 14 (cartoons),
Register,
19 and 23 August 1886, pages 7e and 7a,
6 October 1886, page 3h:
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I am sure [a paid house] will give us better men, more honest, less selfish and also more equitable representation.
Also see Register,
13 and 27 October 1886, pages 4 and 3f,
Advertiser,
31 March 1887, page 6a,
Register,
1 April 1887, page 7h,
7 May 1887, page 3g,
20 and 21 May 1887, pages 5a and 5a-7c,
7, 8, 12, 15 and 16 July 1887, pages 4g, 3h, 7e, 3g-4e and 6h:
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I am for payment of members on principle, because I hold it to be essential to just legislation that honest and intelligent men, too poor to maintain themselves and their families, while they are representing public policy as it appears from the standpoint of their own class, should be enabled to take their proper place in the legislature... But to pay members elected under the higgledy-piggledy influences that [now obtain] is a glaring instance of political immorality... (G.W. Cotton, MLC)
Also see Register,
19, 20, 21, 23, 27 and 29 July 1887, pages 7e, 3e-4e, 7e, 4f, 3d and 7g,
2 August 1887, pages 5f-7c,
8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 25, 30 and 31 August 1887, pages 6b, 4f, 4f, 4g, 4f, 3f, 4g and 4f-g,
1, 2 and 14 September 1887, pages 4g, 5f and 4g:
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It seems the highest folly and injustice to remunerate the members of the Council at the same rate as members of the Assembly. The work of the former is exceedingly light as compared with the work of the Assembly...
Are [members of the Council] going to put their principles in their pockets and condone the offence for a consideration? If there is any honesty, any patriotism among them, No! Let them show themselves above bribery and above threats...
Also see Register,
26 May 1888, page 7h,
20 August 1889, page 7h,
5 November 1889, page 7f,
4 and 12 July 1890, pages 5b and 7b,
31 July 1890, page 5f,
27 January 1891, page 7h,
23 May 1891, page 5b,
14 and 21 June 1892, pages 4g and 3b,
4 August 1892, page 4e,
16 November 1893, page 4e,
27 September 1895, page 4f,
The Lantern,
15 September 1888, page 6 (cartoon).
"Legislators and Their Salaries" is in the Chronicle,
25 August 1894, page 5a.
"The Position and Payment of Politicians" is in the Register,
27 July 1896, page 4d; also see
13 and 20 June 1901, pages 6g and 6g,
Advertiser,
31 July 1902, page 4c,
Register,
23 May 1904, page 4c,
27 October 1904, page 3d:
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Formerly we had a lot of cultured, large-hearted, consistent free gentlemen to manage the business of the country, but payment of members has brought forth a lot of needy, expensive grab-alls, who want to nationalise every industry.
Also see Register,
17 March 1909, page 4d,
Advertiser,
26 November 1910, page 12f,
2 December 1910, page 8d,
Register,
11 April 1911, page 6b,
6, 7, 9 and 14 November 1912, pages 12c, 6d, 7d and 9b,
21 November 1912, page 6d,
18 December 1912, page 7h.
Also see Register,
18, 20 and 21 August 1919, pages 6b, 5h and 6d,
11 September 1919, page 6c,
22 February 1921, page 4c,
17 August 1921, page 6e,
2 December 1921, page 7d,
Advertiser,
31 October 1925, page 12g,
6 November 1925, page 16h,
The News,
14 November 1925, page 4c.
