GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2547, 7 June 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PEBBS ASSOCIATION TELBQEAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Junb 6. QUESTIONS. In reply to the Mon. Mr Wihon, The Hon. Mr Whitakbe said the Government had no intention of introducing any material amendments to the Harbor Act of 1877. The Government looked with disfavor upon the different Harbor Boards introducing Acts affecting the general Act unless in very exceptional circumstances. MOTIONS, On the motion of the Hon. Mr Chamberlain it was agreed—“ That, in the opinion of the Council, it is desirable that more extended statistical returns should be placed before Parliament of the various industries at present carried on in the colony.” WEST COAST COMMISSION EBB’ REPORT. The Hon. Mr Hart moved the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire and report upon what grounds and upon what evidence it is stated in the second report of the West Coast Commissioners at page 2, "At the end of this war in September, 18G5, the whole coast from Wanganui to the White Cliffs, forty miles north of New Plymouth, was confiscated under the powers of the New Zealand Settlement Acts.’’ At page 8, “ Thera were but throe courses open to Sir Donald McLean—to drive the Natives off by force, to insist upon their return upon , defined reserve*, or to yield a tacit consent to ] their occupation and bide hia time, H# chose the last; ” and at page 34, “ that at : any moment in all these years (between 1865 and 1880) the trouble north of Waingongoro would have vanished, it instead 1 of talking about doing the right thing any 1 Minister had only set himself to do it.” Mr Hart spoko an hour and a-half, quoting largely from “ Hansard ” to show that the 1 Commissioners by their report had done in. . justice to the late Sir D. McLean. . At 4 p.m, the debate was adjourned till next day. THIBD BEADING. The Vagrant Act Amendment Bill was road c . a third time and passed. IN COMMITTEE. C The Banks and Bankers Act Amendment , Bill was partly passed through committee. The Council adjourned at 4 55. *

HOUSE OF EBPBBSENTATIVES.

The House met at 2 30 p.m. NOTICES OP MOTION.

Mr Muneo gave notice of motion for the appointment of a committee to enquire into the facilities afforded for shipping at Westport.

Mr Sheehan gave notice that he would ask leave to introduce a Bill for the representation of the Maoris, and also a Bill to repeal the Sharebrokers* Act. Mr Joyce gave notice of the appointment of a committee to inquire into the appropriation of the Kaitangatu Belief Bund, and as to whether or not legislation for better regulation of trustees under the relief fund was necessary. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr Seddon, The Hon. Mr. Johnston said the penny postal system would mean a loss of £20,000 per annum to the colony, and under the circumstances it was not intended to introduce the system here.

Beplying to Mr Thomson, The Hon. Mr Johnston said the stationmaster at Opawa was found to be too old for the service, and would be discharged with six months’ salary. Beplying to Mr Levestam, The Hon. Mr Johnston said ho had called for tenders for the supply of telegraph forms in this oo'ony. One tender was accepted, but afterwards the tenderer preferred forfeiting his deposit. The difference between the other tenders and the English tenderers was so great that the Government was compelled to accept the latter.

Beplying to Mr Smith, The Hon. Mr Dick said the Government did not see its way to restore the district library subsidy to the estimates. Beplying to Mr Holmes, The Hon. Mr Johnston said there were only three bookstalls at stations on the Southern line. Only at Ashburton was a higher sum offered than that paid by the man in possession of the stalls. The reason a lower sum was accepted was that he was a very old man, and the Government did not think it worth while to disturb his possession.

Replying to Mr Pearson, The Hon. Mr Johnston said it was not deemed necessary to appoint a stationmasler for Ashley railway station, as the traffic would not warrant it.

Replying to Mr J. G. Wilson,. The Hon. Mr Johnston said that during winter it would be impossible to arrange for a railway mail service from Wellington to New Plymouth in two days. By the time summer came in tho railway would be sufficiently far completed to enable such a service to be arranged for if deemed necessary. Replying to Mr Oadman, Tha Hon, Mr Dick said the Government would not undertake to supply the local bodies with copies of all Acts passed during the session, as tho expense would be too great. Replying to Mr Daniel, The Hon. Mr Roubston said so soon as the survey was completed about one-third of the land botwean Orepuki and the Limestone Gorge would bo opened for sale upon deferred payments. BILIfI. Tho following Bills were introduced and read a first timeTo Consolidate all the Educational Reserves in the Colony ; to Amend the Law of Libel (Mr Sheehan) ; to Amend tho Law of Libel (Mr Tole). COBKtTPT PRACTICES AMENDMENT Bill. The Corrupt Practices Prevention Amendment Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. THB WB3T COAST Bill. The House went into Committee on the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill, The Hon. Mr Bbtck accepted the amendment of Mr Tawhaio, that the number of Natives mentioned in clause 7 should be fifty, instead of twenty, Mr Shepherd moved an amendment to clause 7, to make it road, "Any Justice of the Peace not being a member of the Armed Constabulary." The question was put that the words be added. The Houso divided—Ayes, 29 ; nots, 51. The amendment was lost, and the clause passed. After considerable discussion, Sir Ghobob Gbby moved that progress be reported, to enable him to prepare three new clauses with the view of giving effect to the recommendations of tho West Coast Commissioners that the Native reserves be inalienable. Ho would have his clauses printed and circulated for tho information of members. He appealed to them on the score of justice to afford him tho opportunity ha desired for doing the Native race a [substantial act of justice.

Mr Sheehan supported the application. He appealed to the Government, that having removed a great public difficulty now to show to the Native race that they were nevertheless prepared and anxious to conserve their best rights. The Hon. Mr Bryce insisted that the pro. posed amendment ought to bo made a separate Bill. That was the course which ought to be adopted, and not to attempt to gat such a provision inserted in the Bill. The amendment was incompatible with the character and purpose of the measure itself. The amendment was lost on the voices. On the question for the adoption of the schedule, Mr Bhbkhan moved that progress be reported, for the purpose of affording Sir George Grey the opportunity asked for moving his additions. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. WEST COABX PEACE PRESERVATION BILL. The committee on the Peace Preservation Bill was resumed.

Sir George Grey moved a series of amendments, in accordance with the intimation given. The Chairman ruled them out of order, and refused to accept them. Mr Sheehan moved, as an amendment of the preamble —“ That all the words implying the guilt of To Whiti and the other prisoner be omitted.” He argued that these persons could only bo held to be guilty after trial. The fact was, what was sought to be done was to prevent them from having the oppor-

tanity of getting each a trial. A position of that kind waa calculated to hold them up to ridicule in the world. The Hon. Mr Bryce argued that, so far as the Bill went, the House had constituted itself Judge and jury, and assured their guilt at the same time. He thought there was good reason for preserving the preamble. Mr bHBHHAN insisted that while they were entitled to assume some things they had no right to assume what they knew to be manifestly untrue. They never could assume for themselves the functions of a jury. They could very well take the powers and drop the preamble altogether. Mr Buchanan spoke in favor of the Bill being allowed to pass ao it stood, full of imperfection and inconsistencies. Mr Montgomery supported the amendment, and argued that there was enough explanatory matter in the first part of the preamble to justify the Bill, without the after part asserting the prisoners’ guilt. Mr Tubnbull moved as a further amerdment_ that the preamble ret forth that Te Whiti waa incited to sedition by the neglect of this and previous Governments to vest the reserves in the Natives. Negatived on the voices. Sir George Obbt supported the original amendment, adding that in his own mind hs believed the Government was not only convinced that To Whiti had not been gu :i ty, but also that a conviction could not be secured. The House divided on the preamble as printed. Ayes, 51 ; noes, 17. The amendment was lost, and the Bill passed, and was reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered tomorrow, THE INDEMNITY BILL. The Hon, Mr Bbyob moved the second reading of the Indemnity Bill, which was agreed to without comment. INDUSTBIAL SCHOOLS BILL. The Hon. Mr Dick moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Bill. Mr Lbvbbtam advocated the necessity of training ships being provided throughout the parts of the colony. In a maritime community like this, a training of that sort was of great importance. In the other colonies attention had been given to this subject, and he hoped more attention would be directed to it in this colony, Mr Daniel spoke in the same strain, adding that for naval and volunteering purposes a provision of the kind would be ot incalculable advantage. Mr Moss pointed out that if the Qoveiament would face the question of local selfgovernment, bills of this kind would be unnecessary, as the localities would make provision for their own requirements. He asked them to give local self government, which was one of the vital questions of last session, their attention.

The Hon. Mr Dick said, in reply to the objections stated, that exertions were being made to train up children of this class to habits of thrift and industry. They) were being taught farm working and ploughing, &c., and the aim of the Government was to extend the sphere of these pursuits. He did not think that sea captains would be very fond of drafting off the boys indicated by the Act in that way. The argument about training ships fell flat. The motion for the second reading was put and carried. NATIVE EEBEBVBB BILL. The Hon. Mr Baron moved the second reading of the Native Boserves Bill. It was designed to consolidate the law relating to Native reserves. It empowered the Native Lands Court to deal with these reserves, and the other provisions were described. Mr Pbtbie thought the Bill consulted the interests of the Native owner too much. He pointed to subsection 14 and showed that it would be detrimental to the interests of the tenants of the Native reserves at Greymouth. In committee he would move material amor dments.

Mr MaCandeew pointed out that there was no provision for the Natives themselves having a voice in the administration of these reserves.

Mr Tokoana objected to the Bill, as it gave Natives themselves no power to deal with the reserves.

Mr Stevens spoke of the importance of the individual title made inalienable being given to them. By that means they would be enabled to give the Natives the right to administer their own interests, and leave them to depend upon themselves. Again an arrangement like that would be the first step towards doing away with the cumbersome Native department. He would oppose the motion.

Mr Hoimes spoke in support of the Bill, describing it as a measure that would protect the Maori against himself. In committee he would more in the direction of associating one or two of the Maori chiefs with the Government in the administration of these lands.

Mr Oonnbiiy disapproved entirely of the principle of the Bill. There was no reason given why this Board should have tho control of these reserves, and he did not see how this Board could undertake this in addition to the work already devolving on it. They had boon told of the desire to bring both races under the one law, and set measures were being introduced to make it impossible for a European to tie up his land, while here they tried to make the Maori lands incapable of being untied, He hoped that time would be given to consider the matter more fully. Mr Te Wheoho would not opposs, but thought the Bill capable of important improvement in committee. After some farther discussion, in which Messrs Trimble, Weston, J. W. Thomson, Tuiaroa, Stevens, Watt, and Tawhai took part, Mr Sheehan urged that the Native Land Courts, which had been blamed, were not to blame, but this Parliament. He regarded the abolition of pre-emption as a great mistake, In 1872 he offered to support the Government in re-imposing that right. They could not now go back on that, and the question was, how were they to handle these lands ? What he advocated was that sufficient land should be tied up for the maintenance of the Natives, and let them dispose of tho rest. This Bill would tie up every acre in the North Island. He asked if that was fair, either to tho European or the Native. He had always held that the highest price should be given by the Government. If the Bill passed as it was, it would have the effect of employing a large amount of Government officials, and the Maoris would find that tho substance would go and the shadow be loft to them. He meant to support the Bill, simply for the purpose of affirming the principle that a change in the law was necessary. At present the effect was to vest these lands only nominally in the hands of the Maoris, and leave it in reality in the bands of the Government officials and others. He thought more time should bo given for tho consideration of tho Bill. Their object should be to interest the Natives in the preservation of these lands, and not, as the Bills stood, actually ignore them in tho matter altogether. To give further time for the consideration of the whole question, ha moved tho adjournment of the debate.

The Hon. Mr Bbyob said he would not oppose the adjournment, which was put and carried. The House rose at 12 am.