PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1277, 1 July 1886, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, June SO

The House met at 2 30 p.mDr Menzies presented a peti i >n iu favour of Bible reading in echo.-h. Leave of absence was grii: t d to Peter and Mr Barnicoat for ion sud fourteen days reap ctively. Unimportant business was transßCit-d and the Council adjourned HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday. June 30. The Council met at2 30 p.m. Tbs New Zealand Bible, Tract, sr.d Book Society Bill was read a third time and passed. Several bills were introduced and read a first time. The Native Linds Administration Bib, and the Native Land Court Bill were reported Dom the Native Affairs Committee and ordered to be committed on Fridav. Sir George Grey gave notice to ask Government if they could not pyossc ite a person who sold matches by which a ! child was poisoned at Invercargill I’st J week, the matches not being labelled as poison .us. [ Sir Julius Vogel resumed the debate on the Pacific I lands question. He said the circumstances had now changed, and it was necessary to strengthen the handi of the Agent-General iu representing the matter to the Imperial Government. He wished to siy that the English Gove-n- ---, ment had all through extended every to New Z taland on the When the proper time came

his colleague would move a aeries ol amendments on tna resolutions previ; u<!y moved by other members, strongly urg ng on the Imperial Government the desirableness of allowing *l>e New Hebrides to be annexed by Fran e ; that no more criminals be sent by France to New Caledonia; that religious freedom and freedom of trace and commerce be guaranteed vo British subjects equally with those of Franc? \ that Rapa 1 e ceded by France bo Great Britain : that all objections be waived to Great Britain annexing Raratonga and the aejsceut islands Mr Barron moved an amendment that New Zealand should concen'ia e its attention ou affairs within the colony, and that this Bouse has confidence in leaving questions such as that effecting the Pacific Islands to the Imperial Government. „ , . ■ , After debate Sir George Grey a original motion for a nJxei commission was put and lost by 38 to 29. Mr McKonzVs ame-dment was also lost on the voices Sir Julius V0261 , s resolution* (rnovt-d by Mr Tole) ware ihen put seriatim On the first resolution being put, Sir George Grey moved an smendment — “That this House protests against any foreign power annexing any of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The amendment was lost by 41 to 18. Sir Julius Vogel’s first resolution hoping that an expression of cpinion by the colony will nos bo without use to the Borne Government was carried. Mr Barron's an end ment was then put and lost by 44 to 15. On .'•i* Julius Vogel’s second rtsolution being put, Mr Itursell moved (for Mr Kolleston)the amendment, to the effect that this lioum would not convey to the Home G vernmevit any other ex preseion but the coi fi.ieut ii—pe that t e Home Government would set in the best interest of the empire, the colonies, and the P.ciiio Islands. The d.,b de was interrupted by the 6.30 adj urmnenG Mr Holietton’s auur.dmen W.. 8 lost by 42 to 21. Mr’Fulton mnv?d a further amend ment, that France chould bo bound by treaty to discontinue convictiam. Sir George Grey said we had no right lo dispose of the lands without consulting the Inhabitants He was altogether opposed to bartering away lands over which we bad no claims in order to obtain advan tagea for ourselves. He p-otea'ed against the great wrong to a defenceless people. The Premier said the islanders were mostly eoadi ion could not. be made worse by annexation. In 1878 Sir George Grey himself had asked the House to annex these very islands, and his conduct now was inconsistent. Mr Dargaville opposed the Idea of bartering Rapa for the New Hebrides and defended Sir George Grey from the charge of inconsistency. Mr Buckland moved to insert “ that Great Britain should sacrifice all to honor and justice and disregard expediency ” Sir George Grey demed that ihe majority of the islanders|were cannibals-. There were many Christian villages scattered over them. The Premier was inflated with power and hard upon his fellow-men In support of Hs assertion he adverted to the Premier’s treatment of a depntath nof the unemployed at Christ church. Mr Wakefield said the Premier ta common sense to the unemployed, aud - ha was bringb'g the same faculty to b ar of the New i’cb idea Mr F aber insTS. Ihat Governin':m had dealt viith the in a manner. - , Mr Bnckland's amendment’ ont by 35 to 23, and the founh a. Sir Julius Vogel’s amendment ci-niv. Mr Dargaville moved an amen m ;o that the labor traffic shou’d ba f’i? continued. Sir Julius Vogel add Givernmeut h**c no wish whatever to foster ihe lab?

traffic, but it was not in their power i< stop it. All they asked the House to sa; was that the traffic, if continued, shouh be regulated. The amendment was negatived by 3 to 22, and the resolution as amended wa put and carried by 37 to 24 Sir Julius Vogel moved that the Hour go into committee on the Midland Rat way Bill. , , Major Atkinson moved that the aebi be reported la Hansard Several men beta protes'ed against eo unusual a coura and the motion was hat by - C G to 31 The Bill was reported with eng amendment, at 2.15 a m. and the Hon