MPs' perks cartoon, 1893

Parliamentarians' so-called perks were fair game. Salaries, travel allowances, meals at Bellamy's and many other things became the butt of humour and a form of criticism when people thought that Members of Parliament had too much of a good thing. The New Zealand Graphic published this cartoon in 1893 as Parliament discussed banning alcohol from Bellamy's to keep faith with the growing temperance movement. Alcohol stayed in Bellamy's bar, but there were many parliamentarians who were worried that they might miss out.