HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3262, 17 August 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE 07 MOTION. Mr George gave notice to ask what steps the Government intended to take to enforce guarantees given in regard to the cost of telegraph stations in certain country districts. PENSIONS. The report of the pensions committee was tnrought up. After reviewing the circum- ■ stances under which pensions were granted to Messrs Fitzherbert, Domett, Gisborne, Pollen, it was to the effect that although irregularities had occurred in the computation of the various pensions, it would be inadvisable to repudiate liabilities, founded on the Governor's warrant in each case, and that therefore the pensions in question should be validated by Act. OTTITIYATION OP OLIVES. The'report of the Local Industries Committee was tabled in reference to the cultivation of olives. On the suggestion of Sir George Grey the report was remitted back to the committee to take further evidence. QTTE9TIONS. Eeplying to questions, it was stated that the Government considered the maintenance of botanical gardens devolved upon the local bodies so as they were recreation grounds only, but the Government were of opinion that thos J places might be utilised for the production of olives and other plants required for promoting local industries, and a vote would be proposed for the encouragement of that object; despite the recommendations made by the Waste Lands Committee the ex-Minister for Public Works refused to entertain the claims of the Shag Valley Coal Company—the subject would be further inquired into with the riew of ascertaining how far that statement '*~ was justified ; the bonus for the production of iron ore, subject to the conditions mentioned, would be again offered ; the Government would consider the propriety . of providing for the issue of licenses for the Bale of tobacco and snuff so a3 to increase the revenue and prevent smuggling, and the Government had reason to believe the proposal was favorably received amongst Tendors themselves; since the bonus of 1874 had been offered to encourage the development.of crude oil products of the colony kerosene had been discovered and a company to work it was in course of formation, consequently the Government did not propose re-offering the bonus ; if anything further were done in the reclamation works at Auckland the cost would have to be taken out of the vote for the roads and bridges proposed for that provincial district; the Government saw no reason whatever for interfering with the progress of the works at the Rangitata bridge. NBGLEOTED AND CBIMTNAI CHII-DBEN. On the motion of Mr Shepherd, a bill to amend the Neglected and Criminal Chil-dren-Act, 1867, was introduced and read a first time. •4fc— •■■ . BEPBESENTATION BILt. The debate on the Representation Bill was resumed by Mr Levestam, who condemned the. bill, and intimated his intention of voting against it. Mr Hutchison etated a number of objections to the bill, but intimated that he would support the secoud reading. In committee he would take steps to have the objections remedied. Captain Russell also objected to the bill, announcing that he did not do so on party grounds and that his action would not in \. any way inberfere with his pnrty ties. He f strongly objected to the proposal to exclude / Maoris from the.population basis, and held that the special representation should be done away with. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. BEPRESENTATION BIXiI/. j Captain Russell continued the debate. JT**- Hawke'e Bay and Westland, he said, represented one-fiftieth of the exports of the colony, while they only had one-fifteenth of the representation. He objected to towns being given anything like the same proportionate representation as the country districts. Considering the number of members who lived in Wellington city he objected to its representation being increased. He urged a number of objections to special native, representation. He would place the natives on the ordinary electoral rolls, either as property holders or on account of their manhood and residence. He believed this would'be more beneficial and acceptable to the natives than the present system. Mr Bunny objected to the threats and bribes offered to the Wellington members. Neither the threat of losing the seat of Government nor the bribe of getting a direct steam service would affect their votes. He expressed entire approval of the bill. There was no reason to fear any combination of Otago and Canterbury. Hβ would rather trust to the sympathies of Canterbury than the tender mercies of Auckland. To take the natives into account in computing the population would be to give Auckland another five members, and in time to shut Maoris out of the House altogether. Mr Tawhai, while claiming the rights of British subjects for thn natives under the treaty of Waitangi, would not consent to £ forego the special native representation in •" Parliament. Mr Ballance said the natives could not be included in the population compilation unless they consented to give up their special representation. He contended that population was the only true basis of representation. He thought the proposals i of the bill in this respect fair as a whole ■r\ towards the various provincial districts, and he was not at all afraid of the preponderance proposed to be given to the South. He did not agree with the difference of quota between towns and country districts. He defended Sir George Grey from the attacks made by Sir William ITox, and concluded with the remark that as the bill would tend to build up the colony into a united whole he YQvld rapport it<

Mr Tomoana believed tho bill would have an evil effect on native interests, and ho suggested it should be left over until they could consult their constituents. Mr Seddon denounced the bill as a most vicious one. Population alone was not a sound basic for representation. The bill was most unjust tj the goldfields. Mr Bastings complained of the bill as it wiped out his district, Waikaia, which was a most important and rapidly growing agricultural and mining district; still, he would support the second reading and try in committee to get justice done. Mr Reeves opposed the bill as unjust to the mining community. The representation to towns was also too large. Mr Skrimski would support the second reading, but in committee would try to have tho proposed boundaries of his district altered. Mr Brown supported the bill. Mr Andrewe said he would vote for the second reading, but in committee would be quite willing to extend the ordinary franchise to natives if they gave up their special representation. _ Mr Hall having replied briefly, the House divided, and the second reading was carried by 49 to 16. The following is the division list :- Ayes, 49. Noes, 16. Allwright Collins Andrews George Bain Gibbs Ballance Gisborne Bastings Harris Beetham Hurst Bowen Hursthouse Brandon Levistam. Brown Lundon Bryce Pitfc Bunny Mosa Colbeck Reeves DeLautour Seddon Fisher, J". B. Sheehan Fisher, J. T. Shephard Fulton Weston Grey Hall Hirst Hutchison" Johnston Kelly Levin Macandrew Mason M'Caughan M'Donald M'Lean Montgomery Murray Oliver i Ormond Pyke Richardson Rolleston Saunders Seymour Shanks Shrimski Stevens Stewart Studholme Sutton Swanson Thomson Trimble Whifcaker Wood Wright Paibs. Axes. Noes. Atkinson Taiaroa Finn Hamlin Moorhouse Tomoana, Turnbull Reid Jones Speight Kenny Wallis Fox Russell Barron Ie Wheoro Wakefield Tole The bill was ordered to be oommitted on the following day. The House then adjourned.