PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the Times of February 7th I observe that Lord Crewe, in defending the principle of payment of members, in his speech in the debate on the Address, quotes the Colonies as a precedent for such an innovation. If Lord Crewe had lived in Canada and were acquainted with politics in that country, I venture to think he would never have advocated the adoption of the Colonial system. Of course, here in Canada, where there is no leisured class corresponding to that in England, the payment of members is a necessary evil, but I have no hesitation in saying that, although not only the Dominion, but the Provincial Parliaments contain a number of able, patriotic and high-minded men, yet the majority of candidates stand for Parliament in this country for what, to use a local phrase, "there is in it," and in consequence there is a deplor- able amount of what we here call " Graft," and which would be called in England by a stronger word. Moreover, poli- ticians here are looked upon with a suspicion which is absent in England. Canadians themselves are fully aware of this, though perhaps they would be unwilling to admit it to strangers. Surely it would be better for the " Mother of Parliaments," instead of descending to what in the Dominions I have described as a necessary evil, to endeavour by its example to raise the standard of Dominion politics to its own high level.—I am, Sir, &c., AN ENGLISHMAN IN CANADA.
March 6th.
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