GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 407, 1 October 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Press Telegraph Agency.) Wednesday, September 29. The House resumed at 7.30. ABOLITION BILL—THIRD READING. Mr Wakefield spoke to the third reading of the Abolition Bill, and took occasion to review the \iiatory of provincial institutions, and quoted from a debate in the House of Commons as far back as the 21st of January, 1846, in support of his statement. He read at some length the outlines of provincial government for the different settlements of New Zealand, advocated by Mr Gibbon Wakefield, and said that, although he contemplated provincial governments possessing considerably greater powers than the present Provincial Councils did, he yet looked to them to divest themselves of all those powers when a General Government for the whole colony was cieated. Sir G. Grey’s constitution was Mr Gibbon Wakefield’s plan spoiled. The hon gentleman occupied nearly an hour in citing extracts to show that to Mr Gibbon Wakefield alone was duo the credit for Provincial Government in New Zealand, and that Sir G. Grey constantly repelled all the efforts of the people to obtain their ordinary rights and privileges in governing themselves, and upon one occasion he gave as a reason for declining to entertain the views of a deputation from the public on this question, that

Europe was then in a disturbed condition, and therefore colonists were not worthy of the privileges of Englishmen. For seven years Sir G. Grey persistently resisted all the efforts of the settlers to obtain local self-government, and he would yet take an opportunity of acquainting the whole colony with the true history of the founding of popular Government in New Zealand. Sir G. Grey’s cheap land system was the greatest snare and delusion ever perpetrated. It sacrificed the poor men to the capitalists. The hon member criticised at great length the needlessness of provincial institutions, and, after speaking an hour and a half, concluded by suggesting that now they were about to be rid of provincialism for ever, they should abandon the unpleasant name of New Zealand and call the colony Freeland. Sir G. Gkey repeated that that day the committee had confirmed a breach of the arrangement come to by the Government and the Opposition, for instead of the Bill being inoperative it would become a living entity. Therefore he protested against the course which had been taken. He protested against the passage of the measure as being unlawful, unconstitutional, and beyond the’power of the Assembly to inaugurate. He reserved to himself, and that most important province of which he was the representative, and also to those inhabitants of New Zealand generally who thought with him, and to posterity, the right to maintain by all lawful, constitutional and justifiable means those rights and privileges which had been granted to them, and the continuance of which was guaranteed to them by the Queen, Lords, and Commons of Great Britain, passed with all formalities, and which could not be taken away from them without the deliberate consent of the British Legislature. He stated in conclusion that he wished to trouble the House with no further observations. Mr Fitzhekbkrt said that the success they had met with in discussing that measure had been so great, that it ought to be an encouragement to a party when they had a good principle to hold fast to it. It was a proof that sound and just principles must always be triumphant. Last year he fought this point with the late Premier, and waa beaten by his overwhelming majority, and when that gentleman was exulting over his triumph, he then told him that despite of the majority at his back, and the millions he controlled, he would yet beat him on that very principle. He had done so, for this session all they fought for and all he fought for then, had to be conceded to them, namely, that the people should have an opportunity of considering this great organic change before it took effect, and in having achieved that much he was so far content. He warned the House that this measure would not be found to be one that would unite the people of New Zealand ; from the moment it came into force there would be dissatisfaction, and disruption must follow. It was not a question of reforming the Constitution the people ought most to consider. The real and the only reform required was a reform in the administration of the country. In taking his farewell of this question, he reminded the House that abolition of provinces was a party move, not the result of any public manifestation, but the matter was now in the hands of the public to decide upon one way or the other. Mr MACANDBEWsaid, on behalf of his constituents, and of a large majority of the province of which he had the honor to be elected head, he desired to solemnly protest against the passage of this Act —an Act which waa being passed without any warning—without the people’s consent—an Act which, so far as the people of the Middle Island were concerned, was passed without any just cause—an Act which deprived the people of that province of institutions under which they had flourished, and the province had flourished, to an extent which he believed to be wholly unparalleled in the history of the world. He denounced the whole proceeding as utterly unreasonable, tyrannical, and unworthy of any representative Assembly—a proceeding which, unless he had greatlymistaken the spirit of his fellow coloniststhroughout New Zealand, the people would not countenance, and to which they would show a sense of resentment that would, he believed, result in the Assembly being; crushed into the dust. Sir Donald McLean said the hon gentle>man, who just sat down, seemed to be unable to recognise the fact that the Government, and those who supported them, were sustained in their duty by public feeling and public sympathy. In reference to what the hon member for the Hutt has said respecting the administration of the country during the past five years, ha thought that the hon gentleman had been most unfortunate in his allusions, The administration during that period had been the most successful and prosperous administration which the colony had ever witnessed, an administration which had brought great numbers of people into the colony, which had opened up the resources, and raised the country from a state of depression and! decline to a state of prosperity and advancement which it had not enjoyed for twenty years previously. The hon gentleman bad claimed a victory, and said the people would favor his views. The Government did not claim a triumph. It would be unbecoming in them to boast, but they congratulated the hon gentleman on bisvictory, and were as well pleased as he that the people were to consider and determine the matter, for they felt sure that the people’sfavor was with them, and that the House having passed its verdict, and affirmed the principle of the Bill, having in fact placed it on the statute book, provincial institutions had fallen for ever. They had' their day and done their work—work which no one desired to depreciate, and now they must go. The House had done the work of extermination, and no one would be found disposed to reinstate them. The people were too wise for that. Then let the colony, the House, and the people look forward to a better state of things—a state of things under which the colony should be united, and not disintegrated, and, so united, continue in the prosperous condition in which, happily, it now stood. A division was then called for on the third reading, the result being : Ayes 40 Noes 21 The Bill was then passed. Division list: Ayes Messrs Andrew, Atkinson, Ballance, Basstian, Bowen, Brown, J. E., Bryce, Buckland, Carrington, Curtis, Cuthbertson (teller), Inglis (teller), Johnston, Katene, Kelly, Kenny, Luckie, McGillivray, McGlashan, Sir Donald McLean, Messrs G. McLean, Mervyn, Munro, O’Conor, Ormond, Parata, Parker, G. Pearce, Pyke, Reynolds, Richardson, Richmond, Shepherd,

J»*.Shepherd, T. L;, Stafford, Steward, Wakefield, Webb, Williams. Noes—Messrs Bradshaw, B-own. ,f. C, Bunny, Dignan, Fitzherbert, Gibbs, sir G. Grey, Messrs Hunter, Macandrew, Moat gomery, O’Korke, Reeves, Rulleston, She ban (teller), Swanson, Takamoana, Thomson. Von der Heyde (teller), Ward, White. Wood. Pairs:—For —Messrs Parker, G. 8., Wilson, Wales, Kelly. Against —Murray, Brandon Stout, Reid The House adjourned at 9.40 p.ra. Thursday, September 30, The Speaker took the chair at 2 30. QUESTION. Mr REEVES asked if the Government were aware that grave charges have been made in the other branch of the Legislature against a person suspected of having made a false declaration before the Registrar of Lands, in order to obtain a title to lands in the Piako district. If so, whether it is the intention of the Government at once to institute legal proceedings against the alleged guilty persons.

Hon Major Atkinson said Government was not aware of any such charge, except what they saw in the public prints. Hon gentleman proceeded to detail the circumstances which gave rise to certain charges. The case referred to a piece of land acquired before the days of settlement in the colony, and said the land subsequently changed hands several times. As far asr Government were aware there had been no fraudulent declaration, Everything had been straightforward. ADDITIONAL SITTING DAY. On the motion of the Native Minister, it was ordered that after Friday next the House sit on Mondays durinsr the remainder of the session, meeting at 2 30. NATIVE LAND PURCHASE IN MIDDLE ISLAND. Mr TAIAROA moved “ That all papers relating to native land purchase in the Middle Island, compiled by Mr Alex. McKay, should be translated and printed in Maori.” Sir D. Me Bean said it would entail great expense and trouble, without effecting any good. They had no objection to affording any inlormation upon the question, or even to the printing of a particular paper or papers, provided the selection were within any reasonably limited range. Mr Taiaroa objected to that. He wanted all the papers printed. They interested Maoris more than Europeans. A division was called for, and the motion was lost by 31 to 19. roads in poverty bay. Mr W. Kelly moved—“ That it was expedient all roads necessary in the Poverty Bay district should be laid off with as little delay as possible,” Hon B. Richardson said the Government had recently taken the matter into consideration, and roads would be laid off as soon as possible. The motion was agreed to. administration op railways in OTAGO. Mr Macandrew moved—“ That there be laid before the House a copy of the report (if any) forwarded to the General Government by the Auditor-General with respect to the administration of the railways in Otago by the Provincial Government of that province.” Hon B, Richardson said that on a previous occasion he stated that there was no Special report such as that asked for ; there was merely a sort of semi-official and confidential sort of memorandum, drawn up by the Auditor-General solely for the information of the Government. They knew that Otago was initiating a system of its own, and as the General Government was also initiating a new system, he was anxious to make a comparison between the different systems in Otago and Canterbury. In order to dispel any mystery, Mr Richardson read that portion of the memorandum relating to the working of the railway in Otago. Mr Macandrew expressed himself satisfied, and the motion was withdrawn. WANGANUI INDUSTRIAL GRANT. MrT. Kelly moved —“ That it is desirable that the public petitions committee should be furnished with a copy of the AttorneyGeneral’s opinion on the case of the Wanganui industrial grant ” This led to long discussion, Government stating they were willing to produce the substance of the opinion, or that portion of it relating to the industrial school grant alone. There were various reasons why the opinion should not be laid before committee in its entirety. Generally they maintained that it was unadvisable to establish a precedent of laying before the House the confidential opinion of the law officers to the Executive of the colony. Those in favour of producing the opinion said that nothing but the whole opinion would do. A summary or precis would not meet the case. The motion was agreed to. lodger franchise bill. Mr Wakefield gave notice that he would to-morrow ask leave to introduce a Lodger Franchise Bill. The House rose at 5.30.