GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1440, 27 September 1878, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Thursday, September 2G. WELLINGTON RECLAIMED LAND. In the Council to-day Sir .1), Bell gave notice that he would ask if it was true that the Thorndon reclamation had been practically handed over to the corporation of Wellington, and if so, could it be done without legislative sanction ? COUNTIES ACT. The debate on the Counties Act amendment was resumed by Captain Fraser. Mr Wilson stated that it was not intended to proceed with the Bill in its present form in committee. They would stop at the preamble, and then substitute new clauses. A short debate on the general question of the working of the county system followed. Messrs Miller and Holmes having spoken, Mr Hall said ho considered there should be an intermediary body between the Government and the Eoad Boards, and ho praised the working of the system in his own district. Sir D. Bell said the county system had been a conspicuous failure, and trusted the stupid arrangement of allowing counties the option of re jecting the Counties Act would be done away with. Mr Waterhouse thought better provision should be made for the maintenance of the main roads. Messrs Campbell, Bonae, and Gbace praised the working of the county system in the districts with which they were acquainted. Mr Nurse thought increased borrowing powers should be given. Colonel Whitmore replied, saying that ho was by no moans prepared to say that the Act was a failure. The Bill was then read a second time. It is not intended that it shall become law this session. irarbor bill. The Council then went into committee, taking up tho postponed clauses of the Harbor Bill, HOUSE OF BET It ICSENTATIVE9. T H UiiS f) AY, S H l.'T EMRE It 27. THE lIINEMOA’S EXPENSE?, Mr E it/,hoy asked the Government for the return re the Hinomoa, asked for on August’ 2nd.

The Premier said unforeseen difficulties j had occurred in furnishing the return asked for, hut no unnecessary delay would take ! place in completing it. THE LATE STORM. In reply to Air Wakefield, Air Macanderw said ho had received information from Christchurch that both on the North line and South line traffic was stopped through injury by storm. The Rangitata bridge had two spans carried away, leaving a gap of 120 ft. BOYS AT BELLAMY’S. Air Fox raised a question of privilege re the employment of two young boys at Bellamy’s during excessively long hours. Ho moved—“ That the matter bo referred to the House Committee to enquire into, and report to-morrow,” Mr Stout opposed the motion. A division showed —For the enquiry, 11 ; against, 21. EDUCATION RETURNS. Air Gisborne asked fora return showing the number of children from live to twelve years old in each education district; also of the number of children attending State or private schools. Mr Ballanch replied that it would take at least three to five months to furnish the return asked for, which would bo ordered to bo prepared. FIRE BRIGADES’ FARES. Mr Bastings asksd for a sum of money to bo placed on the estimates to pay for the railway fares of New Zealand fire brigades. Mr Alac Andrew replied that provision would be made to grant free passes to volunteers, and firo brigades would bo included. PRIVILEGE. Mr Rees raised a question of privilege on a paragraph in the “ Rangitikei Advocate,” of which the authorship was attributed to Mr Fox by the “Evening Chronicle.” Ho moved —“That the name of the author bo demanded from the publisher of the newspaper.” Mr Stout objected to attention being paid to paragraphs in the newspapers. He supposed that as Air Fox had not denied the authorship lie was willing to accept the burden. [“No.”] He hoped Air Rees would withdraw his motion. Air Sheehan thought the matter should be allo wed to drop. The paragraph was harmless enough, and could be disregarded. The motion was withdrawn. FIRST READINGS. The Alaori Representation Amendment Bill, Tiraaru Post and Telegraph Site and Sale Bill, and the Oamaru Aiurket Reserve Bill were read a first time. JUDICIAL COMMISSION. The Judicial Commission Bi 1 was postponed until Alond.iy evening. ELECTORAL BILL. The report on the Electoral Bill was brought up. Air Whitaker proposed an alteration in respect to miners’ rights. Air Pykg said that the object of the present form of the Bill was to do away with the evil of floating votes. Major Atkinson moved that the Bill be recommitted for the consideration of clauses 5, 17, IS, and 21. Air Stout opposed the recommittal, because, practically, the miner’s rigid, was done away with, unless his name happened ty be upon the county roll. The Speaker ruled that, if the report was agreed to, a day must be named upon which the third reading should take place. Messrs Ormond, Atkinson, and others expressed a desire that the recommittal should take place on the third reading. Air AlcLean hoped the report of the committee would not immediately be adopted. Time was wanted for the consideration of it. He quoted the Bay of Islands an being subject to great injustice if (lie now Alaori franchise in its present form were carried. He moved the adjournment of the debate until to-raorrow. Mr Gisborne said that this would only necessitate further delay with no object. Air Rolleston thought that so important a matter should not be hurried. He believed that at the third reading no objections could be raised, unless notice had been given. Important amendments had been brought forward in writing, such as those regarding miners’ rights and Alaoris’ freehold franchise. This was net a party measure, and had been generally supported by him. He thought the Attorney-General had shown a stubborn and obstinate attitude in the conduct of the Bill.

Air Stout said that the present miner’s right was practically the same as before alteration. As to the Alaori franchise, it had been in print in another clause of the original Bill. Clause IS had been amply discussed in committee, No precedent could bo shown whore a Government would permit important clauses to bo re-opened for debate a second time. Ho thought many members objected to the Bill altogether, and would bo glad if it never became law.

Mr Bowen said all that was asked was that time should be given to consider the Bill in its amended form, which was impossible at present. Mr SUTTON said very few members, if any, when the clause was passed, knew and understood its full effect. It meant that manhood suffrage was given to the Native race. Twice over the Native Minister had misled the House.

Sir R. Douglas would consent to the Alaori franchise, if the Government would undertake to amend this matter next year, Air Sheehan said that lie hud stated in his Native Statement that Government intended to deal fully with the matter next year. He had explained the franchise proposed to ho given to the Maoris fully. Ha maintained that the ratepayers’ franchise was a very valuable innovation. It would help to raise local revenue.

Mr McLean and Sir E. Douglas explained that they had raised no objection to the ratepayers’ franchise. He thought defects, if such existed, might hr amended in the other Chamber. Next year, he hoped tho Native race would have given clear expression of their own wishes in the matter. Native members in the House had themselves objected to the present franchise, Mr Fox said it was the double yote that Northern members objected to. If Chinamen down South had a vote for Chinese members as well as for European members, would not that be a hardship ? The cases were exactly parallel. He pressed for reconsideration, Mr Swanson said Europeans had two votes, and he thought the Maoris might have equal rights conceded to them. Mr Moss could not understand how members who were thoroughly well versed in Maori customs and Maori language, should object to tho Maori votes. The extra vote was given to Maoris, not as Maoris, but as property holders. Capfc. Morris thought the reason members from Maori districts objected to the Maori vote was because they knew what they were talking about. It was well known that Government pressure could be brought to bear upon the Maori race, U had been in the past, and tire object of the Government now was to command a certain number of scats in the House by securing the Maori vote in Maori districts.

Major Atkinson desired to give Maori districts special representation, and a lull representation in proportion to numbers. He declared that in the whole of the North Island it was possible for the Maori rote to swamp every country election, except, perhaps, half a dozen electorates. It was putting an enormous power into the hands of the pakoha-Maoris of bad character. It wars not giving power to the Maoris, because their sources cl information wore far from pure, as they had no moans of learning the real truth, or how to judge correctly on questions submitted to them,

Mr 11 in:s said that more Maoris would bo struck off the roll than would bo put upon it. He argued that the Maoris were fully entitled to the privileges given them unde” this Bill on the score of jntoliioenoe, etc. He thought they should have equal rights, and no more, This Bill really gave them such The privileges conferred were given instead of certain others taken away. The Bill provided that, because the Maoris hud special representation, their ordinary franchise was curtailed. Hi' considered it undesirable to say that the Maoris should vote for Maori members only, us raising the invidious distinctions of races, it hud been tumid impossible to control too Maori vote. Too Maoris were in many respects a prelerable class cl voters to many of the lower classes in large cities.

Mr Fitzroy said tho difference between the eases was that the Maori land was not liable for rales. Tho land held by Europeans was liable. He favored increased Maoii representation, and that both races should be placed on an equality. Maori land implied no charges and no responsibility, and should confer no privileges. It affeeted the Southern members as well as tho Northern, because, if carried, it would place enormous power in the hands of the Ministry. Mr Tole thought this discussion would have a very bad effect upon the Natives in the present state of Native affairs. Even if the principle could not bo defended, it was no greater concession than had been accorded in the past. Mr Taaviti said the Maoris bad not desired to bo placed on the roll, and had also been told how they were to vole. Some Maoris who had Crown grants had not had their names placed on the rolls. The House knew well that Maoris had been instructed by the Government of tho day. They wore the subjects of the Queen and landowners also. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. ELECTORAL BILL. Mr Tawtti said the chief question that had occupied the House during the three years he had eat in it was tho Native question, "lie thought it was true that the Queen’s writ did not run through tho whole of Now Zealand. A great many Natives upheld tho Queen’s authority, 110 was prepared to accept the concessions offered by tho Native Ministers. He upheld the Native policy because it was offered by the Queen’s Government. It was not right to re-open the question now. It was settled the other night. Mr McMinn said the question had been fully discussed in all its branches before. Ho thought it would be unfair to insist that the Maoris should pay rates to become entitled to a vote, but to allow Europeans a vote who wore not ratepayers. This measure curtailed the Maori franchise, but extended the Europeans’ franchise. Mr Taiaroa thought this Native question was settled the other night. It was only fair to give the Maoris this extra vote. Europeans had several qualifications. It was through tho fighting in this island that the Natives were admitted into tho House. Some members bad first asked for support from tho Maoris in his constituency, and then opposed their interests in this House. Mr Babff had voted against the measure before, but as the House had expressed its opinion, ho would abide by its decision. Tho Premier felt constrained to make a fcw r remarks on so great a question, involving tho just treatment of one race by tho other. Last year the Opposition had been content to promise great things to the Native race, but now they endeavored to take away both household and freehold franchise, mailing an invidious distinction between tho two races. This would create discontent at a critical period. Both Ivawhia and Ohau harbors had been thrown open, and other instances had been given of the change in the native feelings towards Europeans, From a party or private motive only the Opposition attempted to deprive the Maori race of their just privileges, and to refuse them equal rights. He had hoard a member object to a Maori being placed upon coanmittees on Maori matters. Hitherto the Natives had not misused their privileges. They had every claim upon ua for respect at this moment. It was believed that the Queen would not assent to any law which imposed any injustice upon the less powerful race, lie only asked for justice to the Native race and to their fellow men.

Mr Ormond was glad that tho debate had arisen because it bad shown how members would vote upon the question. The Premier had asked for equal justice to both races. He opposed the Bill because he thought it imposed a great and serious injustice upon a large section of the European race. Ho would show that this was so. Members seemed to forget that Natives had special representation, which greatly affected the question. Besides this special representation, in many electoral districts Maori influence was very great in elections. Tho only reason why in many other cases it was not fell; was because there had boon no active Pakoha-Maoris to induce them to enroll their names. Tho wish of tho Maori race was that tho special representation should be increased. This was the right way. They were deprived of the household vote only, and the Maoris hardly ever held that qualification. The present law was that all Maori owners of land with a Crown grant could vote, but this Bill proposed to allow that natives, holding under Communistic titles,should all be [entitled to vote. The people of Now Zealand would resent this proposal as a cruel wrongto the European race in districts where a Native population existed. In tho Bay of Islands Maoris had flooded the roll because a number of fictitious voters had been placed upon the roll at the instigation cf a pakeha Maori. He explained the whole history of the Bay of Islands electoral roll. Instead of this matter being referred to a committee, it was referred to a commission appointed by the Ministry. The country was becoming so alive to the weakness and humbug of the proposals brought forward by the present Government that there was not a ghost of a chance of those measures becoming law. In that case tho Government said they would appeal to tho country, in that case tho injustice of tho Maori vote would become apparent. Ho said tho Native Minister advocated this measure on the ground of expediency, and that was the only ground on which it could be supported. The Bill was a harmless measure. He accused the Premier of voting against an immediate re-adjust-ment of the franchise. Mr Ballance said the Government measures would never fail to pass while they had so good a friend as Mr Ormond. His violence would be of tho greatest service to the Government. The Maori franchise was unaltered by this Bill, except in the abolition of tho household franchise. The O.ppo(ion had been satisfied with this IJat ye franchise while in power. The danger of the Native vote was daily becoming lots in the North Island. It was not great, because the proportion of Maori electors was so small. He thought it a local question, affecting only a few districts. Why were certain gentlemen so much opposed to (his Maori vote ? Why were t hey so suspicious of the Maori vote ? lie considered that land held by natives upon a ommunistic footing gave them sufficient interest in public and political business for them to give an intelligent vote upon such matters, lie thought that, if this Bill was only a sham, Mr Ormond ought to be opposed to it. lie believed he was wrong in his predictions, and he (Mr Ballance) was not afraid that they would be yorifieq. Mr Was on thought it was not a party question, and lie was sorry that tne debate should have tho appearance of a si niggle for place and power. The Attorney-General had said that this was a party question. The Native Minister said it was not. Which Minister was right in his statement ? The Maori race had oyell treated by tho European. It was not proposed to takeaway any qualification that at present existed. Time had not boon given lor members to ascertain the effect of this new clause when it was introduced. Tho Bay of Islands question had shown what an unscrupulous Government could do in the direction of depriving a European constituency of tho franchise. Tho report was adopted on tho voices. Tho Bill was ordered to bo read & third time to-morrow.