PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1000, 20 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, July 19. The Council met at 2.30. IMPORTATION OP STOCK. In reply to Mr Hart, The Hon Mr Whitaker said the Government were fully considering the question of the prohibiting of the importation of stock from Europe and America, but had not yet arrived at a decision. BILLS. The Fugitive Offenders Jurisdiction Bill and the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill were road a second time without debate. The Dunedin Southern Market Reserve Leasing Bill and the St Peter’s Church (Caversham) Bill were road a first time. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 19. The House met at 2,30. QUESTIONS.

Replying to questions, Ministers said: — The Government were aware that the Westland County had collected tolls on the Otira road, which was entirely maintained out of Colonial Government funds. The toll was erected on that road by the County with the consent of the Government, and if it were removed it would be re-erected elsewhere on the same Ine without any material gain to the traffic. — The Government did intend offering areward for the discovery of a payab e goldfield in Canterbury, but under certain conditions. —The attention of the Government had been directed to the discrepancy between the local and the property tax valuation of proper y in Wanganui-Wai-totara district. The property tax valuation was L 719,000, and the local valuation L 520,000. The Government had reason to believe that the valuation under the property tax was the more correct one.— Mr Bowron been appointed lecturer on the cheese and da ry factories question at a sa ary of L2OO per annum.—The Government would oiuse the railway reserve at Papakura to be planted with trees suitable for railway timber purposes. bills. The following Bills were introduced aud read a first time : —To Amend the Native Lands Act (dir George Grey) ; Kawhia Township Sale (Mr Rolleston) The following local Bills were read a second time:—Hokitika High School, New River Harbor Endowment, Waitara Harbor Board Loan. The Timatu Racecourse Reserve Bill was read a third time and passed. Westland Education District Subdivision Bill passed through committee, was reported with verbal amendments, read a third time, and passed. PACIFIC ANNEXATION. The Eon Maj <r Atkinson moved — “ That this House concurs in the recommendations cont lined in the report of the Pacific Island Annexation Committee, presented to this House on the 17th inst.” There might be complications arise in connection with the islands, unlesssteps in this direction were taken. He regretted that the Imperial Government should have asked them to contribute to the expense, but such having been asked, it was wise in their own interests they should acquiesce. Mr Montgomery said that these islands were already thickly populated, therefore to speak of colonising them was a misnomer. In some of the islands the climate was most unhealthy. If it was in the interest of humanity this Was proposed, he questioned if their civilisation would do much to improve the' natives. Financially speaking, he thought it would not be a success. They had not, as a co’ony, any spare money after providing for their own wants. In time of war these outlying dependencies would become a source of weakness. He did not approve of British rule and British rum being forced on people who did not ask for it.

Mr Holmes designated it as a sentimental motion. They did not go into these islands for the purpose or establishing their civilisation. What was meant was to sweep the natives off the face of the earth. It was a sham to say that they took possession of the islands in the interests of the inhabitants. He would move as an addition to the motion, the following as an amendment —“Excepting in so far as it involves the expenditure of money on the part of this colony.” Mr Shephard denied the proposition laid down by Mr Montgomery that in civilisation the blacks must disappear before the superior race. India and South America were quoted as instances in point to disprove this. When population increased, as it undoubtedly would in this colony, some outlet would be required for the surplus population. New Zealand was pre-eminently adapted for the establishment of manufactures. When that was done, they would require an outlet for their trade, which these islan is would afford. He was strongly in favor of the proposal. He did not look upon the probable expense as being likely to be at all large. Mr Macandrew agreed with the amendment, although he disagreed with the arguments by which it was supported. He held it was the duty ot the British Government to annex the whole of these islands. The most this colony could do in the matter of money was to provide fur its own wants. It was the duty of the British Government to find money for annexation.

Mr Moss denied that the labor traffic was a ape lies of slavery. la effect, England would be challenging other Powers if they annexed these islands. At present New Zealand had all the trade the islands could, afford to give, It was not, after all, such a great boon to get under the British flag. The Fiji settlers had found that, and had learned by bitter experience what a Crown colony of a severe typo really meant. The proposal before the House was one involving ureat responsibility, and the end of it could not possibly be foreseen. Mr Munro supported the motion, conmenting on the commercial advantages it would secure to New Zealand if the Customs laws were suitably considered. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr J. Buchanan resumed the debate on the annexation motion. He would vote both against the motion and the amendment.

bfr J. \V. Thomson saiql his opinion was they should let good alone. If, however, British rule was to be established in those islands it should be done at the expense of the Homo Government.

Mr Hurst agreed in the proposal for the postuouement. He moved the adjournment of the debate accordingly.

Mr Fish supported the motion for adjournment. lie believed this annexation proposal would be of advantage to the trade of the Australian colonies. Sir George Grey said that for the first time these colonies had awakenpd to a sense of national life. For the first tin>e thoyjhad roused themselves to joint action. That was a most important epoch in their history, therefore he could not feel he was doing right to cast any damper upon a movement of so great import. He believed that the commerce would be of immense advantage to this and other colonies. Again, these islands were most fertile, but at the same time they were most unhealthy. In that case Europeans could only live there as directors of labor, and the probabilities were they would have to leave the islands during certain seasons of the year. A large proportion of

Australia would hare to be populated with colored people. On the whole he thought they should hold out the hand of fellow* ship to the colonies who had entered upon this project, without pledging themselves to any pecuniary expenditure until, at least, they knew exactly what the contribution would amount to.

Mr Hutchison took exception to the labor traffic, and stated that he would oppose the motion. Mr Barron suggested they should divide the resolution into four parts, and that they should pass the first, and adjourn the debate as regards the remainder. The Hon Major Atkinson thought it would be unfair to hurry the debate. The motion for adjournment of the debate was put and carried. MIDDLE ISLAND RAILWAY. The Hon Major Atkinson moved that they go into Supply. Mr Leyestam moved that the central route of the maintrunfe line by the Tophouse be proceeded with at once.

The Hon said in the absence of the money it was an exceedingly difficult thing to undertake a work of this kind. Last session Parliament decided that a loan of L 3,000,000 and no more was to be borrowed during the currency of the present Parliament, and this expended at the rate of L 1,000,000 per annum. The motion was simply impracticable, and could not be entertained. Mr Holmes spoke against the motion, adding that, after what had been-stated to them by the Government, it would be unnecessary to discuss the question further. . .

Mr Fish complained that the Government were keep ng these various routes dangling before members for the . purpose of securing their support. It was humiliating for the Government to act. in this way as between the parties intjerest&rf.

Mr Hdrsthouse blamed the Center* bury ru -mbera for the part they took in thie late compact. Mr Turnbull did not think that these routes were at all likely to be carried out. It was this fierce contention for railways which had placed the finances the country in the critical state in which they found themselves placed. Within the last ten years they had added L 20,000.000 to the colonial debt. They could Jtfok for no assistance from the land, ak for some years it must be a burden on'the colony. The gold returns ware short this year, and the railway report was a, most melancholy one. During the dunront year 70 miles of line would : have -tobe re-laid. He was afraid that next year they would have a doleful state of affairs from that source. He could see nothing but commercial depression looming in'the future. The only way they could .escape from their difficulties was bringing; down their expenditure and placing. ,it within their income. It was on these grounds that he asked the Treasurer to take back the estimates with the view of having them recast. The amendment was negatived qn.the voices, and the motion for going' into Committee of Supply put and carried. IN COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The following items passed Minister of Mines, vote —L 13,083, mines ; L 5,800, miscellaneous; Crown Lands. Department, L 21,444; miscellaneous, L 13,407 ; coal fields, L 220;0 0; Survey Department, L 111,729 ; Minister of Mines, L 10,500. The House adjourned at 1.20.