EVENING SITTING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1839, 12 May 1888, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The Houae resumed at 730 p.m. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Pyke moved the Addrcss-in-Reply to the Governor's Speech Referring to the depression, he said it was brought about by the people themselves, and it rested with the people to free themselves from it. There was no colony which had not had its period of depression, and a few years ago Melbourne was In the name condition. He did not hesitate to say that the gold-mining industry had never received the attention it deserved, and the proper development ,of that Industry would lead io enormous benefit to the colony. The river Molyneux alone contained enough gold to pay off the national debt of Great Britain, He was not prepared to Bay that the fortifications of the colony were so complete as shadowed forth m his Excellency's speech, bat he was not afraid of any foreign foe coming to attack us. Referring to the present Lsnd Act, he said it was the only sensible Land Act that had ever been m force m the colony, and it was a vast improvement on the previous Act, whioh was injurious to the interests of the colony, He wished the Minister m charge of education had a little more backbone, and adhered to the proposals he had made last eanaion for preventing children of tender age being sant to schco'. Ha also thought a little more religion ahouid be taught m schools, and he hoped bofora the session was over some Bill would be brought m to amend the present Act m the direction of teaching children Bible les3ons, otherwise he should prefer to see the echools abolished. Coming to the Chinese question, he did not look at Chinese arriving m the colony with any particular dlffivor, as the climate of thia country was auch as would precludes them from coming here In any great uumbera. There wb» no doubt, however, that if they weee allowed to laud m Australia it would be ruinous to that colony. As to Iho attitude of the Imperial Government on the matter, that Government would have to choose between maintaining amicable relations with China or with the colonies. He referred to the legislation proposed on the question by the present Ministry, and said that whatever restrictions wero Imposed by the Houae, they Bhould provide against any return tickets beiug isiued to Chinamen leaving the colony. Ha thought a sum of money would have to be put on the ostimetes shortly for the destruction of ferrets, which wore a greater pest than tho tab .-ire, The rabbit eklna now expor ;■•.; f cm the colony were a valuable t'S|i).'. and he did not agreo that tha

nil I. - _ —»__»• .-«._ _» < , - rabbits were anch a nuisance bb alleged. Referring to the tariff qaeation, he said be had learned, while In Victoria recently, ttiat neither fceetrade or protection waa a necessary factor m the advancement of a country. He found also that m that country manufactories had falUo Into the handa of large syndicates, who bought out smaller men and mon^po'ised tha rnanufac' uring Industry of the oolooy. What would happen here would be something of a oimllar kind. Ha objscted to the Hara systsaa. He also regretted to Bee that no provision waa made for giving the fran- , ohiaa to women, and he hoped that omis< blod would ba rectified when the Bill oima down. He pointed out that there was no. organised Opposition at present, bat he appealed to hon members to sink all minor prejudices and do their best for the good of the colony bb a whole; Mr Carroll seoonded the Address. He Oomplimented the Government for the ~ manner In whioh they had dealt with the Civil Servloe, but hoped they had used no unnecessary harshness In the retrenchment details. He did not think the present Lmd Act had had a sufficient trial to prove it, efficiency, but he believed that m time It would ba very beneficial to the country. The Native question was a very grave one, and he bad every hope that the present Government would pass some measures which would suit the interests of Natives generally|better: than the law *rhioh at present existed. There was a general desire on the part of Natives for ths repeal of the Native Land Administration Aot, because under that Aot Natives coold not dlspoaegof their lands except ' through Native Committees, whioh resulted m nothing being done undar the Act at all. What the Natives wanted was f roet'-ide m their own lands, and mat sufficient reserves shoal \ bo set apart for themselves and their children. The Natives were also anxious that the NAive Land Oonrt Aot should be amended, as great evils existed under that Aot, They would prefer, In faot, that that Aot. should be done away with altogether, but suggested that It should be amended so as to facilitate titles to their land. He held that the solution of the Native difficulty lay In the sub-division and mdi* vldaallsatlon of Native Lands. la his opinion the time was not far off when the races should be put on an equality, and that the same law should apply to both/ He had every confidence In the present ' Government submitting proposals respect< ing Native lands whioh would give satisfaction. Native legislation should not be a parliamentary question, but both sides of the House should combine to 3o justloe to the Natives. He annoonoed himself a freetrader, and contended that protection existed at present. If mote revenue were required he suggested that considerable revenue could be raised by taxing totalisators and by having every ticket stamped with a 2d stamp, it would contribute about £20,000. ' The motion was then pat, and agreed to on the voloes. , : , On Mr Carroll's motion a Committee was appointed to prepare the AddresvUi* Reply, whioh was afterwards adopted. The House rose at 8,50 pm "