GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 979, 15 August 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

* [By Telegraph.] [per press agency.] LEG-IS DATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 11. The Council, after some formal business, adjourned till Thursday, owing to the indisposition of Dr. Pollen. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 14. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Mr Button presented a petition praying for the construction of a bridge over the Hokitika river. Mr K Alt ait f ana Takawmna presented a petition, signed by 500 Natives, praying that the Native Land Court Bill should not be passed in undue haste. Mr Sheehax presented a petition praying the House to inquire into certain allegations regarding the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond. NOTICES. Mr Pox gave notice to move a resolution for the prohibition of gaming on racecourses and in publichouses. Mr Reus gave notice to ask certain questions as to the paying off of £400,000 Treasury bills, mentioned in the Financial Statement. Mr REYNOLDS gave notice to move for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the condition of the Assembly Buildings. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. According to the report of the Public Accounts Committee, there was no objection to the financial year closing on 31st March, but it would have to be regulated by the period at which the House met. In reply to Mr Travers, Mr WmTAKEB said the Government did not propose to alter the representation during the present session, or until the census had been taken. HIGHER EDUCATION. Mr Gisborne asked whether the Government will introduce this session a Bill, as requested by the Simate of the University of Zealand in March, 187(>, for the purpose oT vesting in trustees, to be agreed upon by the Government and the Senate, the lands reserved for promoting higher education in certain provinces, and of enabling the same to be administered for the purposes for which they wore reserved. Mr Bo wen said the Government had been considering the matters, but had not yet decided how trustees would be appointed. They did not intend to bring] in a Bill this session. PROVINCIAL OFFICERS. The Premier promised to lay on the table a return asked for by Mr Reynolds showing the names of all provincial officers whose services have been dispensed with under the Abolition of Provinces Act, their duties and salaries ; also a return showing the names of all new officers.'nol being provincial officers, rppointcd during the recess, their duties and salaries.

Mr McLean said their experience so far had not been of such a nature as to encourage them to establish another school. He hoped the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company woidd take some of their boys as apprentices. REFORMATORY. Mr Bastings asked the Government if they have any intention during the present session of making provision for establishment of a reformatory for the colony ? Mr Bowen said the matter was under consideration. They had however several schools already which served as reformatories. NATIVE LANDS COUET BILL. Upon the orders of the day being come to, the Premier referred to the promise he made to the House on Friday last to declare on Tuesday what they intended to do regarding Mr Ballance's amendment. The lion, gentleman detailed the circumstances which led to the introduction of the Act to simplify the legislation which had previously been acceptable to the Natives, and said it was prepared carefully to carry out those principles. The Bill appeared not to be acceptable to some Europeans because a party had grown up who thought that any fresh legislation on the subject should be be different from the course they had pursued Tor the Inst ten years. The Natives objected to the Bill on the ground that the courts were not satisfactory. It was clear that the Natives should be consulted. When the Bill was brought before the House it was clear thata large number of the Government supporters objected to the Bill. Those gentlemen, who usually A'oted against the Government, took advantage of this and endeavored to make it a party question. It was fortunate for the country that the Government, were in a position to resist this, for it was the first time that ever a Native Land Bill had been made a party question. The hon. gentleman went on to say that, after giving the utmost consideration to the principles contained in the amendment of their hon. friend, the member for Rangitikei; and, considering the vast importance of the question to the Natives and the necessity of consulting them, the Government decided to ask for a discharge of the Order of the Day relating to Bill. To-morrow lie would move for leave to introduce a Bill to prevent all purchase of Native lands by private persons until the end of next session. Mr Stout raised a point of order, arguing that the amendment of the member for Rangitikei could not be intercepted in that way, because it was the amendment which was really before the House, and that the order of day referred to could not be discharged. The Speaker pointed out that ride 103 of the Standing Orders made it very clear. He therefore could not feel impressed by the arguments of the member for Dunedin. Sir George Grey took up similar ground to Mr Stout. Mr Reynolds pointed out the inconvenience which followed the practice of not accepting the Speaker's ruling. Mr Stafford supported the Speaker's view. Messrs. Recs, Fox, Travers, Gisborne, and the Premier, and others having spoken to the point of order. The Speaker again ruled against the objections raised by Mr Stout, who asked the Speaker to refresh his memory as to the Premier having spoken previously in the debate, and therefore being incompetent to move the discharge of the Order of the Day by reference to the journals of the House and "Hansard." The Speaker having referred to "Hansard," decided against Mr Stout. Mr Sheehan then asked whether it was not now competent to speak on the question that the Order of the Day be discharged. The Speaker decided that the whole question could be re-opened. Mr Lusk then proceeded to speak as to the merits of the Bill. They would not be doing their duty unless they moved that another Bill be brought down that session. The hon. gentleman then moved that the following words be added to the Premier's motion for the discharge of the Order of the Day, viz., "To enable the Government to give effect to the amendment of hon. member for Rangitikei." It was not the interest of the colony to stop the sale of Native Lands for twelve months. If the Premier's motion were agreed to it would not mean the stopping of the sale of lands. It would stop colonisation altogether. Mr Sutton held that the Bill gave an opportunity for monopolists to obtain Native Lands. Tho Bill was a very great improvement in the interests of settlement over past legislation. The fact was the monopolist was made a mere stalking horse. They had only to look round, and they would see what the Act of 1873 did for monopolists, while doing nothing for settlement. As to what was said about the Natives' dissatisfaction with the Bill, he begged to refer them to the petition signed by Natives on the East Coast, and presented on the first day of the session. No doubt the Bill had certain objectionable features, and one notable defect was the enormous power given to the Chief Judge, a power greater than possessed

by any Judge of the Supreme Court, and certainly too much with which to entrust any man.

The debate was interrupted at 5.30.