General Assembly.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 427, 24 August 1880, Page 3

General Assembly.

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

On Thursday, in tho Legislative Council a very large amount of small and routine businese was disposed of. A Committee reported it had been stated that in debate were personalities were introduced omission wore made by direction of the chief reporter. A continuance of the system was advised subject to the supervision of the Speaker.

The motion by the Hon J. T. Peacock that all balances in the hands of Education Boards at the year's end should be repaid to the Colonial Treasurer, was withdrawn on Mr Whitaker pointing out that in such case the Boards would take care to have no balances. A return was ordered, on the motion of Captain Fraser, of the number of Wardens and Magistrates on the Otago goldfield, with their total cost, and the number of cases they heard. The mover showed that there was ample room for very large economy in the department, there being the same number of officers at high salaries and allowances as when all the fields were populated. Their work was now almost nil, and one Magistrate could do the whole of it. The Wedneeday's sitting of the House of Representatives was prolonged till 4.30 a.m. on Thursday morning. At 2 a.m., the Chairman was so ex hausted that Colonel Trimble had to take his place. A large nnmber of votes were brought down, and has passed so printed. At the evening sitting on Thursday, the Hon J , Bryce moved the second reading of tne West Coast Settlement (North Island) Bill. The report of the Commission had no doubt been read by all, and put for that fact he would have gone more fully into the circumstances calling for this measure. The West Coast problem was one of much difficulty, one that had lasted for a considerable time and had been steadily growing. It was the object of Government (1), to satisfy the Natives that their just claims would be fully recognised, and (2) to convince the Natives that the authority of the law must be established on the Coast. The Commission devoted itself to the work, and to do justice to all parties concerned, a fact abundantly evinced by their report. They had made many important recommendations pointing to a reasonable solution of the difficulty. The simple object of Government was to deal with the difficulty in such a way that it would not break out again in future years to the prejudice of the body politic .

Sir G. Grey said that tho report of the ' Commissioners was worthy of the Colony of New Zealand ; it deserved all credit, and he fully admitted the trouble they had gone to. He was not equally satisfied with the Bill. Instead of being a permissive measure, the Bill should have adopted the report as a whole, and enjoined the full carrying out of its just and righteous recommendations. In the passage of the Bill through Cointnittee he would endeavour to get it so amended aa to convince the Natives that the whole report had been adopted, and that they would get all that the Commissioners had recommended. Major Te Wheoro complained that tho reserves had been selected in the interior and not on the coast. Mr Tyke criticised the Bill, contending that this was an attempt to deal with the Native race in a different manner from what they dealt with the European. Any Maori who was merely suspected might be apprehended without a warrant. That wae a most absurd proposal. Altogether he saw no hope so long as a corrupt Government had a servile majority at its back, of opposing the measure successfully.

The Speaker called upon Mr Pyke to withdraw the latter portion of his which was done.

Mr Moss said that as a political measure the Bill was bad, the whole policy was nothing but an abuse of power; it had not a spark of courage or manliness in it, for it enabled the authorities to put these men in prison without a reasonable excuse for bo doing. He agreed with Sir G. Grey as to the Commission, and that the Conr

tnissioners ought to be entrusted with the power of working oat the objects aimed at. Mr Maoandrew also protested against the Bill. It was a Bill unworthy of Englishmen, and the future hieterian would refer to it as something eiinitar to the doings of the Star Chamber or Massacre of Glencoe. Mr Tainui said he had not agreed with the Bill, and would endeavour to have it amended in Committee. Mr Reader Wood also bore testimony to the skill, care, and knowledge shown by the two Commissioners, and the exhaustive nature of the report, and proposals made by them. The Bill was not entirely foundered on that report, but it was proposed to settle the disturbances on the recommendations suggested in the report. The report did not recommended force, but to go to the Natives themselves and negotiate with them. That course ought to have been adopted earlier. Mr Ballance demurred to the proposal of allowing the Commissioners to administer the Bill; the responsibility ought to rest with the Government ot the day. The Hon J. Hall said that it would be hopeless to think they could solve the difficulty unless they could show the Natives that while they meant to deal justly with them, they wore strong enough to enforce their authority. It would be impolitic to vest the administration in the Commissioners, or indeed in anyone but the Government. All that the Government desired was, that the difficulty should be settled upon the best and most expeditious terms. The debate wae adjourned till the following day. Mr Bryce said that there were a number of Bills on the order paper that he saw no chance of passing this session. He therefore moved the discharge of the following : —Native Land Frauds Prevention, Native Lands Contracts Act Validation, Native Lands Stamp Duties, Native Reserves and Miscellaneous Native Claims Bills. This was agreed to, and the Bills were discharged. On the motion of the Hon T. Dick, the Licensing Bill was discharged. BILLS IK COMMITTEE. The House then went into Committee on the Diseased Cattle Proclamation Validation Bill and tho Electric Telegraph Act. 1875, Amendment Bill. Progress was reported, and at 12.15 the House adjourned. In the House on Friday, the Cavereham Boroughs Incorporation Bill and Law Practitioners' Act Amendment Biil were passed. The West Coast Settlement Bill was read a second time, sfter a few remarks from Colonel Trimple, Sir W. Fox, and the Hon W. Gisborne. The House then went into Committee on it.

An Imprest Supply Bill for L 200.000 was passed.