WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3910, 4 September 1875, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[Ey Telegraph.] {From our own Conenpondent.)

Wellington, September 4. In the course of his speech, on Thursday evening, Sir George Grey said the long discussion which had taken place had uiven the House fuller information on the subject of the Bill, and he would therefore take the opportunity of remarking upon some of the statements made. Ho would point out that privileges expressly granted could only be taken away by equally express terms ; that was an axiom in constitutional law, and he believed, if the Chief Justice were in the House, he would not support the Government, but would tell them that they were acting illegally. Many constitutional lawyers had neld to that doctrine. — (Several Members ; “Names!”) He could not remember the names just now, but he believed Mr Freeman was one. He must say, and he did so with the greatest respect to the House, that it was an undoubted truth, which must be maintained by all lawful constitutional means, that each Province, if the Assembly persevered in the course it was now pursuing, had the right to determine what its own future should be—each Province had the right in itself. He believed that had the Imperial Legislature passed an Act enabling the House to do what they were now doing, they would have saddled it with this condition : that it should not apply to any Province until through its Provincial Council it had assented. The original Constitution had been framed so as to appeal to the noblest sentiments of human nature, but this Bill and all the measures of Government appealed to all that was low and base in human nature. Writers in England, France, and Germany for the last thirty years agreed with him that such a Constitution as they had had here had been looked upon as the very best that could b_* given to men ; :uul that was what was to be destroyed. Government promised to make amendments next session—how did they know that they will he returned next session, or have a majority ; or that the Upper House, over whom they had no control, will copsent to any measure next year? The promises of thu Government were delusive and altogether fallacious. Ho firmly believed that if once the liberties were taken away

from the people, they would never regain them until disturbances had actually taken place. He appealed again to the Ministry to adopt a constitutional course, and appeal to the people. Why not dissolve' (Opposition cheers.) If they adopted that course supplies would be at once voted, and they could immediately go to the country. He challenged them to take that course—they knew they dared not. —(Cheers.) Believing that this measure would do no good, but on the contrary would produce great evils, and that if a constitutional change is to take place it should be one different to what the Government proposed, he could only hope that those who loved JNew Zealand would determine to resist to the utmost by all const!-* tutional means and every facility which the rules of the Assembly allowed, and to take care that this measure never passed into law, _ : irD. M‘Lean said the real tendency of Sir George Grey’s speech was separation of the Colony from England and the creation of a Kepnblieau form of Government, with Provincial Councils as the main machincry,--(Cheers and nous.) It was not because they bad a majority in the House that the Government were desirous of passing the Bill : they had a majority all over the country—(cheers)—and the question of delay was utterly and entirely unnecessary.

He charged the member for Auckland City West with having raised questions which had nothing to do with the matter, in order to lead the minds of the people away from the subject. Believing that this Parliament had determined that they 'Should go on with the abolition of the Provinces, and that that was the conclusion desired by the people, the Government would carry it through at all hazards. (Loud cheers.) Mr Header Wood complained of the Native Minister’s angry criticism of Hir George Grey’s speech, and charged the member for Timaru with being disingenenous in not telling the House, when affirming that the Colony lost nothing by alteration in capitation, that Auckland alone lost L 53.000. Mr Stafford : How ? Mr Wood ; By losing her five-eighths of the Customs revenue, which, had she "retained it, would have given her L120,0i.0 a-year. Mr Stafford : What about the 13,000,000 loan?

Mr Wood ; That had nothing to Jo with the Customs revenue.—(“ Oh !”) The five-eighths was not reduced in consequence of the loan. The feeling of the Aucklanders showed clearly whether the Bill passed or not they would not have it.—(Opposition chcer.s.) There had been

some tall talking on the part of the member for Timaru ; therefore he would indtdge in a little. If the Assembly took upj an independent poai-

iion at the supreme Leglslatu re, as suggested by the member for Timaru, what was there to prevent the member for Auckland City West, the member for the Hutt, the member for Pott Chalmers, and the member for Avon calling their Provincial Councils together, and saying: “Gentlemen, the Assembly has set itself up in opposition to the English Parliament, and declared itself a snperior Legislaturc ; you follow suit and declare yourselves independent of the General Assembly. - (Opposition cheers.) Make yourselves supreme in your own districts.” If the Assembly did such a thing, not. a single person would rise up in their support; but if the Superintendents took the action he suggested, they would be surrounded and encouraged by the enthusiasm of the people in their Provinces. He repeated that the effect of passing the Bill would be to bring about separation of the two islands. The people declined to have their revenue and everything they got dependent on the will of Ministers and upon a majority of the House. Mr Stafford : In not that the statu now.

Mr Wood begged the hon. gentlemen's pardon—not if fair justice was done to Auckland. There was a strong feeling in the House that that Province had not been fairly dealt with. The following is a return showing the amount of the land fund to be received within the Otago Provincial district from November 1, 1874, to June 30, 1876 ; Receipts from land fund, L 272,182; goldfields revenue and duty, L 13.344 ; railway receipts, L66.C66—total, L 350.828: charges, interest, and sinking fund, L 85.674 ; surveys and general administration of waste lauds, L 60,410; Road Boards, L 5,344 ; working expenses of railways, L 47,430 ; Education, L39,683—t0ta1, L 238,537. Balances (A) available for the purposes mentioned in subsection 2 of section 18 of the Abolition Bill, L 09,927. (B.) available for public works on goldfields, L 13,334. The grand total does not show the whole sums available for local public works, but, only that part of the sums available which arises out of opemtions-on the land fund. The balances above shown will be augmented by any increase in the estimated land revenue, and be further enlarged by contributions from the Gonsolidated Fund, amounting to LIIO,OOO for the year.