GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 542, 23 September 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Rep esentatives on Monday, On the motion for the further consideration ot the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, Mr Tomoana complained that the Bill had not come down earlier, and that it was most extraordinary a Bill of this importance should be kept back to the very last moment. Mr Moss protested against the colony being forced into hostilities with the Natives. Mr Macandrew could not see that the Bill was forcing them into hostilities. He thought tbe Bill, with some amendments he would propose in committee, was a very requisite one.

The Hon W. Rolleston, in reply, denied the, insinuation made by Mr Moss, to the effect that Major Panis was in partnership with certain West Coast Native lands transactions. The question of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill wan then put and carried, and the House went hit-) committee on it. Replying lo Mr Tomoana, The lion. W. Ri'leston sail that Government had withdrawn the Waipawa Lin.l Dispute Bill owing to the late period of tbe session, but tbey would use their best efforts to settle the dispute during tho recess. To enable him to speak to tho question, Mr Tomoana moved the adjournment of the lions", and proceeded to urge the ne ces.*iiy fur speedily settling tie dispu'c expressing 1 egret at the withdrawal of the Bill. Sir G. Grey greatly regretted the withdrawal of 11 Bill which he regarded as a most important one. The Hon. W. Rolleston charged Sir G. Grey with delighting in stirring up and prepelualitig strife. He was in fact, an incorrigible mischief maker. Tbe Speaker ruled tbe words to be unparliamentary, and they were withdrawn.

The Hon. J. Hall said that considering the period of the sassion the waste of time still going on was perfectly lamentable. On many occasions they Kept quiet, and were content to be under unjust imputations rather than go on discussing and wasting the time.

Mr Hutchison blamed the Government for not having brought forward their important matters during the earlier part of tbe session. The motion for adjournment was then withdrawn. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr Barron moved a now clause, providing tnat any person neglecting to record his vote should be struck off the roll, and not restored again till he had re-registered —Ayes, 10 ; noes, 31. The. Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to, read a third time and passed. A motion for adjournment at 11 a.m. was under discussion at 1.35 a.m. On Tuesday in tbe Council, The Railway Construction and Land Biii was road a third time and passed on a division by 10 to 14, tho names being the same as in the earlier divisions. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill was passed through committee, and tbe Deceased Persons Estates Bill was thrown out in committee by the carrying of a motion for the Chairman to leave the chair. The Hon Mr Whitaker gave notice that he would nvrve to reinstate the Biil. The Hon Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Property Tax Bill. Tiie Bill proposes to reduce the tax to a halfpenny. Mr Saunders blamed the Government for proposing a Bill of this kind without explanation. Ho ought to have shown the real state of their finance, and not delude them by living on borrowed money. Before they thought of reducing taxation, he ought to have shown them that he Was able lo live without borrowed money.

Mr Ballance concurred in the opinion that fuller information should have been given. He thought the relief proposed ought to have been given in a different way from that proposed. Mr Moss commented upon the gross irregularity in being called upon to pass such an important measure at a morning silting, after they had been sitting till 2 a.m. that morning.

Sir George Giey also blamed the Government for having brought forward the Bill at this late period. Ho also blamed them for compelling the House to sit so many hours in a day. Mr Macandrew was opposed to the principle of tbe Bill, hut inasmuch as it was prooosed to mitigate an evil he would support it He also blamed the Government for tbe irregularity with which they conducted the budness.

Mr Gisbome would also support the Bill.

Mr J. T. Fisher would not support the Bill, as tho principle of the Bill was crushing the life blood out of the colony.

The Hon Major Atkinson having replied, The motion for the second reading was put and carried. The Hon Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Customs and Excioe Duties Bill. He deprecated any discussion on the abstract questions of free trade and prote tion over this Bill, and although he felt bound to admit that in many respects out tariff departed from free trade principles, yet neither it nor this proposed amendment were intended to bo protec-

tionist. Mr Gisbome thought that the thin end of the protection wedge was being introduced by the proposed tariff. Colonel Trimble reviewed the various imposts proposed, which he argued were too high. Mr Hursthouse advocated the imposi tion of a higher rate than that proposed on hams and bacon. He also supported the increased duty on jams. Mr Ballance spoke in favor of the tariff being made a protective one, and condemned the bonus system, as being beneficial for only one or two individuals. • Sir W. Fox spoke at some length against the introduction of protectionist fallacies under the guise of encouraging and promoting local industries. Dr Wallis condemned the practice of constantly changing the tariff The Bill before tbe Houi-e, he maintained, tended in the direction of a protective policy. Mr Stevens acquiesced in the first clauso of the Bill, but considered its other clauses mo-t objectionable. Mr Swauaon rend a telegram from a pioduce firm in Auckland, largely engaged in the Fiji trade in maize, objecting to the duty proposed on that cereal. After further remarks from Messrs Saunders. Andrews, Murray, and others, The Hon Major Atkinson briefly replied, after which the motion for the second reading was put and carried on the voices. Si 3 G. Grey asked the Premier ii he would make his promised statement with reference to the Leaseholders' Qualification Billl It will be remembered that when this Bill was in committee, Sir G. Grey proposed an addition limiting tho number of votes which could be exercised by any elector to two. Tho Premier now said that under the circumstances the Government had made up their minds to drop the Bill, and they were reluctantly compelled to admit that the bon gentleman had succeeded in defeating the leasehold franchise. The following Bills were considered in committee, reported with unimportant amendments, and read a third time and passed -.—Consolidated Sock A-1 Amendment Bill. Customs and Excise Duties Bill. Ihe went into committee on the Property Tax Bill. The Hon Major Atkinson said that a clerical error bad been discovered in the Bill. He therefore moved to report pro-

gross, which was agreed to

The House went into committee on the West Coast Settlement Reserves, Native Luids Act Amendment, and Native Reserves Bills. Before tbe House rose, Mr To Wbeoro referred to the reports published in the newspapers about the state of Native, affairs on the West Coast. He did not bidievc in them. He would not advise tbe Government to cease being careful, but at the same time he did not think there were any well founded grounds for alarm. They should, however, look carefully after Te Whiti. He believed the alarm was got up by the Europeans for their own purposes. They wanted troops sent up there becauseTaran.iki was really supported by the expenditure on the soidlers. The other Native members spoke to tho same effect. The Hon J. nail said the Government was not alarmed. They knew what was being said and done at Parihaka. They were on their guard, and nothing more, as they knew they were strong enough to deal with any emergency ; therefore they were not alarmed. If trouble came they knew how to deal with it, but they would not meet it halfway. He was sorry the Maori members had attributed the alarm to a desire to get expenditure in the district. The Government han information proving that was not correct. 'Lie Government trusted to the good sense of the Natives to prevent any disturbance, and every pi oca ution was being taken Jto prevent trouble arising.

. In tbe House of Representatives on Wednesday,

The Premier brought up the following address to be telegraphed to the VicePresident of the United States:—"The House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, express its deep sympathy with the people of the United States of America, in their grief at the death of President Garfield, a calamity to be deplored by every English speaking community through the world." The Hon Major Atkinson moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Bill.

Mr Montgomery insisted that the new parliament should meet at tho earliest possible moment, and would therefore oppose clause 4 which proposed to grant supplies for three months beyond the close of tho financial year

| The Hon W. Rolleston said they had instructions to remodel tbe Civil Service and make reductions of £30,000, and that could not be done in a da}\ Government was not going to stand still and let tha elections be carried against them. In that case it was absolutely necessary that they should have time. After a long discussion the Bill was read a second time. In committee, Clause 4, on a division of 31 to 27, was altered to read two months instead of three. Mr Montgomery would propose a further limitation unless Government gave a pledge as to when the next session would be called. The Hon Major Atkinson said that if Mr Montgomery had not threatened them,

n distinct understanding on that point would have been come to. nnd Mr Montgomery knew of it. Now, no further pledge would be given. Mr Montgomery denied tbe truth of the statement that he knew anything of the sort, and he denied using any threats. The Hon Major Atkinson said that Government would call upon its supporters to uphold the original proposal. Mr Reeves moved, as a further amendment—"That the clause be made to read during the 'space of two weeks' instead of two months." The amendment was lost by 37 to 66. The rem Hinder of tbe clauses passed without opposition. The Bill was- reported with amendments, and read a third time and passed. The Hon J. Hall announced that the steamers North and South had been detained, and would not leave to-morrow until the business was finished.