PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1019, 11 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.' Friday, August 10. BILLS. The Taiaroa Land Bill was read a second time. The Auckland Loan Bill, Waimate High School Bill, and the Mataura Reserves Vesting and Empowering Bills were received from the Lower House and read a first time. THE HONORARIUM. The Hon Mr Pharazyn moved—“ That in thi opinion of this Council the honorarium to members should cease at the expiry of the present Parliament, and that in the event of this Chamber becoming an elective body, and a Bill being introduced for the payment of members the honorariani should not exceed Ll per diem for a period of three months only, and that members resident in or near Wellington should not receive any honorarium for their attendance during the session.” He considered ho had been grossly insulted by hon. members when he had moved his motion last week, and he read aleader in the New Zealand Serald condemning the action of the Council on that occasion. After discussion, The Hon Mr J. C. Richmond moved as an (amendment after the first word, ‘that,’ be struck out, and the following words inserted,. ‘ this Council defers a discussion on the quest on of the honorarium to its members until the proposals of the Governmint with regard to this Council are under consideration. ’ ” On the question that the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, the votes were—Ayes, 4 ; jnoes, 24. The words were therefore struck out, and the proposal that the other words should be inserted was negatived on the voices. SCHOOL COMMITTEES ELECTION BILL. The Hon Mr Mbnzies moved the second reading of the School Committees Election Bill. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose at five.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 19. The House met at 2.30. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. The Hon Major Atkinson, .in moving that the House on rising adjourn to Monday at 2.30 for Government busineslf said that the Government then proposed to go on with the Estimates, and continue at them throughout the week. There were many Bills on the paper which could stand over till next session, and the Government saw no reason why, if members wished it, the session should not end this month. QUESTIONS.

Replying to questions Ministers said— That enquiries were being made into the allegations of Jong continued delays in the conduct of operations under the Land Transfer Act, and if any fault existed it would be remedied.—That the Government could not agree to submit a proposal to admit sugar free of duty with the view of assisting in developing the fruit preserving and jam trade.—That the Government intended to proceed this session with the Alienation of Lands Act. It had yesterday been introduced under the title of the Settled Lands Bill.—That the Government had not recently advanced any money by way of loan to any local body out of trust or other funds ; but certain applications were before the Board.— That two libel actions were pending in connection with the allegations contained in a petition against the New Zealand Settlement Company, and it would, therefore, be improper to appoint any Com-

mittee to inquireiuto tha truth of those allegations. : * MB dargaville’s charge. The Hon Major Atkinson moved — That Mr Hurst be discharged from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the charges made by tha hon member for Auckland City West, Mr Dargaville, against the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, and that Mr Mason be substituted.’'

Mr Seddon objected, alleging that Mr Mason was a well-known defined party man. He also complained that in withdrawinj; the name of Mr Fitzgerald a slight was offered to him. He moved as an amendment that Mr Swanson’s name be substituted for Mr Mason’s as proposed. Mr Bathgate said this proposed inquiry was altogether a mistake. It was plain that the inquiry would be made on party lines. The Treasurer should rest content with the fact that he had a strong majority at his back, and that should be sufficient for his vindication. He should therefore move for the discharge of the Committee altogether. Mr Fitzgerald explained that he had consented to the withdrawal of his name from the Committee as originally proposed, because he was told that he had'expressed an adverse opinion to Mr Dargaville. Ha wished, however, to deny such was the case. Mr Hutchison moved that the debate be adjourned. Mr Swanson explained that his time was already occupied fully with Committee work, and he would rather be excused from serving on this Committee The Hon Major Atkinson said he had made every possible effort to get a Committee acceptable to both sides. He had seen the Opposition wh.p and asked him to submit a list of names which would be acceptable. Mr Steward saw his chiefs on the subject, and replied that they declined to take any part in nominating the Committee, as they thought it should be chosen in a different manner. When Mr Mason’s name was suggested Mr Steward had said there was no persona 1 objection to that gentleman. He bore testimony to the desire always shown by Mr Steward to get over difficulties between parties. Mr Steward confirmed the Treasurer’s statement, adding that on communicating with his party v:r Montgomery reserved for himself the right to object to the Committee altogether, and a similar right was reserved by Mr Dargaville himself

Mr Seddon said that the whipping of Mr Steward was partial, and was not giving general satisfaction to the party. Mr Montgomery bore testimcny to the honorable and loyal manner in which Mr Steward, as whip, had served the party. He felt honored by bis assistance. Mr Sheehan said that if there was a man in the House to whom he would like to see the whole matter left for decision, that man was Mr Mason ; but now, when they saw the turn things had taken, he would appeal once more to both aides to let the matter drop, Mr, Daroavillb said be dissented from the whole proceeding. The stand he took at the outset was shown by the amendment he proposed, which was that the charges made by the Treasurer were hot implied by anything he had said. He again , repeated that he did,' not impute personal corruption or dishonor to the Treasurer or Premier, and if his words could be made to bear such a construction he was prepared to withdraw them. That was simply the position he had all along taken up in this matter. The question for the adjournment, of the debate was put, aud negatived on the voices. The original motion was then put, and '’arried on the voices. CHATTELS SECURITIES. On the motion of the Hon Mr Conolly, the Chattels Securities Bill was read a third time and passed. NATIVE LANDS BILL. The debate on the. second reading of the Native Lands Law Amendment Bill was resumed. 1 Mr Hdrstkouse said that it was wrong to assume that a<l men who dealt in native land purchases were dishonest. The evidence of the Judge* proved that it was not the; presence of lawyers or agents that caused the complications, but the fact that the one block was not infrequently competed for by a number of purchasers also. With the natives themselves rested the responsibility for the difficulties. He failed to see any case where the natives had been defrauded to any extent. He would support the amendment given notice of by Mr Stevens. Interrupted by the 5 30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. Sir G, GK'.t resumed the (debate. He said that iu the Bill before the House, he could not see that any provision had been made for the permanent well being of the native race or the benefit of the European population. Vvhen he was in the Government a measure prepared with great care had been drawn up and printed, and immediately afterwards they were turned out of office, and nothing more was heard of it. He condemned the measure now before the House as unstatesmanliko, and said that a Bill of eight or ten clauses would do all that was wanted. It should be made penal to buy the land before ths title was ascertained. These were the lines his Bill was framed on. . There was something wrong in the present Bill, when they were told that it would not improbably fail, and that next session an amendment would be required. The Government stood in the position of trustee to native reserves, and no Court would have allowed a trustee to sell the property to his family and friends. He hoped the House would support him in an effort to put an end to a system of this kind. He would bring in a Bill providing that these grants should be annulled, and that if any injury were done to those who had improperly acquired them they might come to the House and ask for compensation. Mr Tb Wheoro rather liked this Bill, but there were parts of i{ to which he took exception. He objected to the reservation by the Government which enabled them to employ counsel. They would" have over again the difficulties created by the lawyers. The assessors should not be appointed in the way they were. The course pursued by the Judges in determining Native titles was not calculated to arrive** the real truth of the titles. They ought to search for evidence outside what was adduced to

them in Court, He did not agree in the Government land purchase system. When that system was in vogue great abuses were perpetrated. He would support the Bill, subject to certain alterations in Committee. Mr Smith contended that the preemptive right should be resumed by the Government at once. It could, if judiciously worked, be done on a very small capital—certainly a capital of not beyond their means. Mr Tomoana was afraid if they returned to the pre-emptive right there would be trouble. His opinion was that the Maoris should be placed in the same position as British subjects. Mr Hobbs congratulated the House on the manner in which the Bill had been received. He deprecated the idea of locking up the country by the resumption of the pre-emptive right. It would be unfair to the natives. Transactions pending should be protected from the operations of the Bill. Mr Montgomery would vote for the Bill before them, although he dreaded it, and hoped after its second reading the Bill of 1880 would be again reverted to. He hoped they would not .pass this Bill

into law, but simply carry it on to the next step, and then revert to the Bill of 1880. By following that suggestion he believed it could be carried into law thia session. Mr Kelly and Mr Fish supported the Bill. Mr J. Buchanan defended the Native Lands Settlement Compady against the imputations made against it. Mr Turnbull, although not altogether satisfied with it, would support the Bill. Mr Sheehan said if they wbfilffhdjourn the debate he would speak on Tuesday. If they insisted on going on to a second reading to-night, then he would’ifpeak in the next stage of the Bill. Me would show that in the matter of native land plunder the South Island had been the greatest offenders. He would also show that the Bill would only shit, the unscrupulous, and the fair tracer would have no chance. Wbat the Bill meant was to make the North Island. ar sealed book from settlement for years, to come. As regarded the Court investigations, unless carefully done by skilled men, the weaker and more aged would go to the wall. The Bill was simply. aTs&p.g & p, and as they had been told, an r amended law would be required next session. One effect ®f the Bill would be to check the stream of capital into the North, and direct it into another channel. 1

The Hon Mr Bryce replied. The Bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 1.5. • i