" The Members for Bath have for years given an
annual subscription of 5/. to the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society. At the annual meeting of the Society, it was stated that, in answer to an application to Mr. Roebuck, the new Member, stating the practice, and requesting he would afford his aid to the funds, the honourable gentleman, by letter, unequivocally declared his inability to contribute pecuniary assistance to that or any other local institution."— Morning Paper.
When a seat in Parliament was supposed as a matter of course to be turned into a source of private emolument to the Member, then it was all very proper—an understood part of the bargain in- deed—that lie should subscribe to the schools, hospitals, &e. of the town or county which he represented. But this should not be looked for from a really efficient and independent Representative. He should be returned free of expense in every respect, and not be subjected to an annual tax in the shape of "voluntary subscrip- tions." The thing should be reformed altogether.
Previous page
