Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/83

Rh The ancient right of English members of the House of Commons to receive "wages," though it has long fallen into desuetude, was not created by any statute, neither has it ever been repealed by statute. It was a right to receive 4s. a day, if a knight of the county, and 2s. a day if a citizen or burgess, "and so it hath been time out of mind, which is particularly expressed in many records." It is worthy of note that the Acts of Union relating to Scotland and Ireland do not contain any reference to or provision for the payment of members of Parliament.

Upon reviewing the main features of the Acts of Parliament bringing about the legal union of the Dominion of with England, it will be useful to summarize briefly the most important points which appear in this period of transition from mediaeval to modern times.

The policy of the Tudor monarchy—a dynasty—in ruling  was that of establishing, so far as laws could establish it, a complete equality between the two nations; in delegating local government and administration to the people of  themselves; in introducing the whole system of English local government by permanently setting up the shire system; in uniting  with England by means of wise and far-seeing legislation; in paying deference to the national characteristics and aspirations of the  people; in breaking up the Lord Marcherships; in removing the oppressive rule of the English officials, and in putting an end to the policy of coercive and repressive government.

In giving to a separate judicature peculiar to the Dominion, although it was a system mainly administered by English lawyers and English-speaking judges, justice was brought within the reach of  litigants. The Courts of Great Sessions became, in a sense, a national institution.

The admittance of to parliamentary representation; the distribution of offices and honours to the  nobility and gentry; and the gradual restoration of local government