PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3482, 4 September 1882, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Saturday. The House re-aesembled at 2 p.m. in committee. ROAD BOARDS BILL. The Road Boards' Bill, clause 31, was amended so as to fix the elections, for Boards in the first week in May, 1883, and during the first week of the same month every year thereafter. On clause 39 a motion was made that the clause be amended so as to enable holders of miners' rights to vote at these elections, but it was lost on a division by 38 to 23. Mr Sheehan moved that no ratepayer be entitled to vote at any election unless be had paid all rates then due by him in respect of his qualification. The addition was adopted. On clause 51 progress was reported. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. On the motion for adjournment, Mr Seddon said that they should now insist ■pon no further business being done until the Public Works Estimates were brought down. The delay in bringing these down was most unprecedented. Mr Turnbull concurred, adding that the present state of things was most disgraceful. Mr Montgomery trusted that Ministers would have the estimates down not later than Monday. T Major Atkinson said that until Ministers knew what money they had at their disposal, and whether the Loan Bills ■would pass or not, they could not bring down the Public Works estimates. The House adjourned at 5.55 p.m. Monday. The House met at 11 a.m. REPOBT FflOM NATIVE AFFAIES COMMITTEE. Colonel Trimble brought up the report of the Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Mr Taiaroa, and moved that it lie on the table. Mr Taiaroa moved that it be not received. He alleged that it was not considered by the Committee, and that it was decided on parliamentary grounds. Mr Bryce defended the Committee from the imputations. He warned the natives that thefe taunts and imputations would not be tolerated even from natives. The report was agreed to on a majority of 7 to 6, four of the former being members of the native race. That was what transpired on a previous occasion. Since then the report had been recommitted at the instigation of tbe petitioners. Further evidence was taken, and the report now brought up was the almost T unanimous finding of the Committee. What he protested against was the gross imputations made by the native members when matters did not suit their views. If such conduct was persisted in the Native Affairs Committee would have to be abolished altogether. Major Te Wheoro said he was quite

sure that no good had ever been derived by tbe natives from this committee, and no great harm would be done if it were done away with. As Maori members they only considered Maori claims that were just. lie supported the amendment that the report be not received. Mr Sheeban, without defending the objectionable statement made, contended that the imputation was not stronger than has often been made by European members. The Maori members had been charged with being a combination on behalf of the Maori people, and he asked if they were the only combinations in that House. They bad West Coast combinations, provincial combinations, and all sorts of combinations. With regard to this claim he reminded them that all sorts of promises had been made in connection with this matter. In the other House it was found that this claim had not been satisfied, and this was a State question, and they should have taken every possible evidence on the subject, which had not been done He regarded this merely as a protest without imputing improper motives to anyone. Mr Daoiel said that the South Island natives had not been fairly dealt with, and he regretted the position taken up by the Native Minister. The fact was all that was given the natives for the vast country of Southland would not amount to a'sum of a farthing for five hundred acres. Mr Tawhare spoke in favor of the amendment. COMMITTEE BUSINESS. The debate was interrupted by Mr Macandrew, who drew attention to the fact that a select committee was Bitting without the authority of the House. Major Atkinson moved that authority be now given. Sir John Hall pointed out that the motion, under the circumstances, might operate most unfairly. Members might have remained away from their committees knowing they had not authority, and in their absence important business might be transacted. The House divided : —Ayes 24, Noes 40. The motion ,>as lost, and orders were given that any committee sitting that day be given to understand that they had no authority, and that the business transacted was invalid. NATIVE COMMITTEES REPORT. The debate on the report on Mr Taiaroa's petition was then resumed. Mr J. B. Whyte suggested that the Committee be re-modelled by excluding members of the native race from sitting on that Committee. Mr Tomoana considered a great mistake was made in doing away with the South Island Commission appointed to deal with these claims. Mr Turnbull defended the proceedings of the Committee, adding that if the petition again came before the committee the report would be much less favorable than it now was. The motion was put:—Ayes 46, Noes 14. EAST COAST RAILWAY BILL. On the motion of Mr Johnston the Tauranga, East Coast, and Hot Lakes District Railway Company (limited) Empowering Bill was introduced and read a first time. BHOGDEN CLAIMS. Major Atkinson moved that the House take into consideration the report of the select committee on the Brogden claims. The House adjourned at 1 o'clock.