PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 172, 22 July 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

In the House cf Representatives yesterday, the business during the afternoon sitting possessed little general interest, the principal feature being the laying upon tbe table of a large batch of papers regarding Polynesia, by the Premier, who availed himself of the opportunity to make some remarks connected with tbe question, which were well received by tbe House. He said tbat by doiog co the question would naturally suggest itself to bon. member., what course did the Government intend to. take upon the subject. The papers were very interesting, and contained all the information obtainable upon the subject as to whether the Government intended to take ..any course witb regard to the establishment or encouragement of a commercial company to trade between New Zealand aod Polynesia. ! He did not hesitate to express an opinion that tbe question was of very great importance to New Zealand, and one that deserved considerable attention. He was quite aware that proposals of the kind were open to the objection tbat tbe Government should not engage in thiols which private peraoos ought to carry out, but he thought tbat the maxim was cne which everyday experience contradicted. The Government were quite prepared to leave the question upon its own merits, for he believed the proposals shadowed forth in these papers would be hardly second in effect to tbe public worka and immigration scheme. The hon. gentleman dilated upon the fact that Polynesia would open a great field for enterprise to the young men of New Zealand, whose inclinations were more io tbe direction of trade than io tilling the soil, and he did not hesitate to say that the day was not far distant when the Governor of New Zealand wonld be the Governor-General of tbe Polynesian Islands. The question was not one of parties, but it entirely depended upon tbe opinion o( members whether the Government would proceed with it. The risk was comparatively small as compared with tbe great results likely to flow from it. The following Bills were introduce! and read tbe firet time — A Bill to Amend the Goldflelds Act, 1866 ; City of Nelson Waterworks Purcbasa Bill (Mr Curtis); a Bill to Amend tbe Licensing Act, 1873 (Mr Yogel.)