HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3109, 15 June 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATIVES.

Tuesday,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW MEMBEE. Mr Levestam, the newly elected member for Nelson, was introduced by Messrs Pitt and Shephard, and took his seat. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that if a sufficient number of members desired to visit the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition the Hinemoa would be placed at their disposal ; the Government did not pi'opose to make any amendment in the Shipping and Seamen's Act so as to make further provision for the safe navigation of steamers engaged in the coasting trade, as tho Act was deemed sufficient for all requirements of tbe case, it being founded on the Imperial one; the Government would introduce a bill to consolidate and amend the legislation affecting lunatic asylums ; the Government desired to avoid prison labor coming into competition with free labor, but it was necessary to provide prisoners with work of a reproductive character ; the Government had under consideration the propriety of introducing an amended Bankruptcy Act; tho Governor had reported to the Imperial authorities regarding tho caso of the native prisonors confined for alleged political offences, and a copy of the despatch would bo produced shortly ; it would be impossible to ptit the House in possession within a short timo of the census returns of tho number of children of school ago, as the returns had not all come in. TIEST EEADINGS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time :—Hospital and Charitable Aid ; Licensing ; Chineso Immigration. COMMITTEES. The following sessional committees were appointed :—Library, local bills, nativo affairs, waste lands, goldfiolds, reporting debates, standing orders, petitions, classification of petitions. Dr Wallis complained that an unfair selection had been made of the members named for the committees, and protested against the constitution of the Waste Lands Committee in particular. Mr Hutchison complained of the perfunctory and unsatisfactory manner in which tho Petitions Committee usually dealt with cases beforo it. CIVII/ SEEVANTS. Mr Bunny's motion for a return of all dismissals from the Civil Service, and all new appointments, together with the compensation paid, was agreed to. The House rose at 4.30. The House resumod at 7.30. THE ADDEESS IN EBPIY. Mr Collins moved the address in reply to the Governor's speech. He thought the speech had given universal satisfaction throughout the colony. He considered that the success of the attempts made at economy was simply wonderful, all things considered. The efficiency of the public service had at the same time been increased, but there was still a possibility of making improvement in that respect, especially in the Eailway Department, In certain cases no doubt the

retrenchment measures had caused individual hardship, and those casos should bo considered by the House so as to avoid the imputation of underpaying the public servants. He had some doubts as to howhelping companies to make railways would work, but the proposals of the Government on that subject would deserve careful consideration, but means should be taken to avoid giving slich companies too much political influence. It was most satisfactory to find the railways paying so well, and_ that native affairs were in a satisfactory condition. With returning prosperity he hoped the House would'soon'see their;way to lightening the burden of taxation on all classes of the community. He hoped that those districts who had a large sharo of railway expenditure would get a larger sharo of expenditure upon roads. He thought the colony should be proud of the position it took at the Melbourne Exhibition, a result largely due to the ability of Dr Hector. That position was calculated to raise the colony in spublic estimation abroad. Mr Collins concluded with moving the address, which was a mere echo of the Governor's speech. Mr Fulton seconded the address. He congratulated the House on the favorable condition of native affairs, a result which was largely due to the firm and able administration of Mr Btyee and the admirable work dono by tho West Coast Commission. He hoped soon to sco the nativo difficulty at an end. Ho was sure they were all rejoiced that the necessity for the exceptional and extraordinary treatment of the nativo prisoners who had committed no crime was at an end, never, he hoped, to return. He anticipated happy results from the Intercolonial Conference. He was glad to find the Government were taking steps to abolish entail, and to promote settlement on the lands. Tho reduction that had been made in the overgrown Civil Service was absolutely necessary. Mr Fulton expressed regret at Mr Oliver's retirement, to whose energy tho improvement that had been effected in railway management was so largely due. Sir George Grey understood that the Governor's speech should set out tho policy of the Government. He considered the policy so set forth neither adequate to the occasion nor in accordance with the feeling of the people. The Government were not entitled to any credit for the steady progress of the colony. Under a different policy that progress might have been much greater. Confidence had not increased, although hope might have clone so from the possession of triennial Parliaments. He thought others than the natives should have been imprisoned in connection with the West Coast affairs. It was the Taranaki members who had chiefly benefited by the sale of tho Waimate Plains. Nothing more unjust was ever done than taking the money derived from the sale of these lands, and applying it for the benefit of the Taranaki harbor. Intercolonial conferences were nothing new ; the only result of the late one seemed to be a Chinese Immigration Bill, which could very well have been drawn up without the conference having been hold. From their antecedents he had no'confidence in any liberal land legislation emanating from the present Ministers, The Government had by exaggerating the depression caused incalculable injury to the colony. He did not believe that large reductions had been made in the public service, or that the relative positions of the revenue and the expenditure were satisfactory. There was really a deficiency of £279,000. He strongly urged the justice of a land tax, and expressed confidence that it would ultimately be adopted. He condemned tho Patetere affair as unlawful, and a great wrong to the colony. If the taxation of property were adjusted there would be no need for dealing -with the question of ■ entail or for seeking to find funds for charitable aid. He cemdemned the 10 per cent reduction. Instead of trusting that by God's blessing the stability of our institutions might be assured, he trasted that by God's blessing they might be overthrown. Our institutions were detestable and abominable. If tho Government did not introduce a bill to provide for local selfGovernment he would himself bring in one. He would group three or four counties into one large district, and givo to each such, district almost the same powers as' the former provinces enjoyed for self-govern-ment, and according to the population he would share amongst them the general revenue He thought one legislative chamber sufficient for tho colony, but if a second one must exist it should be made elective. Heretofore the whole system of legislation tended to throw great estates into few hands, and to improve the property of the few at tho expense of the many. He hoped to see the peoplo soon express an opinion whether such a state of things should continue, or whether they would wake to new life, ■ and demand fair and equal selfgovernment, whicli could only be secured by such measures as he advocated.

Mr Wakefield felt greatly disappointed at Sir George Grey's speech. It was unworthy his position, and was inspired, not from above, but from, below. Itconsisted of nothing but raking up old quorrels, making groundless charges, broaching no new ideas, but generally giving a most undesirable tone to the debate. Mr Wakefield criticised Sir George Grey's statements at considerable length, and replied to his assertions. He warmly congratulated Ministers on the present hopeful state of public affairs. He had greatly differed from their native policy in many respects, but he now frankly admitted it had proved right, and that he was wrong. They had effected an inestimable reformation in native affairs, though he could not but strongly condemn the lengthened detention of the Maori prisoners. Ho thought the intercolonial conference was an absurd failure. The Government must, he thought, go on with the main linos of railway, and go on boldly with them this year. He admitted the necessity for local government, but he disapproved of Sir George Grey's policy in that respect, and also that of the Government. All Sir George Grey's schemes of local government had tailed off into leaving the local bodies to manage their affairs on nothing a year. It was not needed to dole out small sums to the local bodies, but to decentralise the government of New Zealand. This was what the colony was determined to have, whoever was in power. He hoped Ministers would take this subject up in a practical manner at once. If not ho hoped some one else would do so. Dr. Wallis considered the Governor's speech more remarkable for its omissions than for what it contained. Ho especially condemned tho omission of any reference to local government. Colonel Trimble, replying to Sir George Grey's remarks about the Taranaki harbor works, gave the history of the matter, pointing out that tho country districts in Taranaki liad generally opposed the expenditure, while the town supported it. He had done his best against it. Ho thoroughly approved the abolition of law of entail, and he considered that Sir George Grey's utterances on the subject were those of a thorough Tory. He believed that if the Legislative Council were made elective it would become too powei'ful. Mr Bunny moved the adjournment of the debate. The House divided — Ayes, 39 5 noes, 16. Tho debate was accordingly adjourned, and the House rose at 11.55. Wednesday. The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS AND EEPLIES. In reply to Mr Macandrew, Mr Johnston said tho Government were alive to tho advantages ;the colony would dcrivo from a direct steam lino between tho colony and the United Kingdom, both in a commercial and immigration point of view, and they intended to ask the Agent-General to obtain all possible information as to the terms on which such a lino coidxl be established, so that next session the House could consider tho matter with all information as to cost, etc., before it met. In reply to Mr Murray, Major Atkinson

said the Government intended to make provision for increasing the number of lighthouses on the coast, but were not at present prepared to state the localities or the amount then. Now New Zealand was one of the best lighted coasts in the world. _ In reply to Mr Murray, Major Atkinson declined to say whether it was intended to impose an import duty upon maize until he made his financial statement. In reply to Mr Murray, Mr Hall said he scarcely thought the Government would be able to amend the Public Works Act this session so as to restore tho drainage clauses of last session's bill. The Premier, in reply to Sir G. Grey, stated that the Government had reason to believe that the detached squadron would go from Melbourno to Auckland, and thence to Fiji, not calling at any other New Zealand port.