HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 272, 16 November 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

_, Wellington, Thursday. The House met at 2-30 this afternoon. . Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to Mr Button. Mr Rees gave notice of motion, That in dealing with Mr Lusk's case, the House had not intended to impute corrupt motives to him and that the fine of £50 be remitted. The following new Bills were introduced: Hutt to Palmerston North Land Reservation Bill (Mr Travers), Foxton Harbor Endowment and Borrowing Bill (Mr Johnston). Sir G. Grey moved the second reading of the DisquaUfication Bill, No. 2, explaining that it was introduced on the recommendation of the Committee, and was intended to cure a j technical defect in the law by which members afte : election could become contractors. The Bill was opposed by Messrs Reynolds, Whitaker, Barff, Reea, Reid, and others. Mr Montgomery supported it. Mr Kennedy explained that he had not willing or knowingly infringed the law, and had no connection with any contract. SirG. Grey stated that the Government did not wish to press the Bill on the House. They already had a Bill in preparation for next session dealing with the whole electoral law, simplifying and rendering it more effective. This Bill would deal with disqualification as well as electoral petitions, referring both to the decision of an impartial tribunal. If the House chose to reject the present Bill, and wait till nezt year for the measure the Government intended to introduce, he would not object. The Bill was read the second time on the voices. The Fish Protection Bill was read the secoid, time and considered in Committee. 9-30 p.m. On the ;House resuming, the Hon. Treasurer gave noace of an Imprest Supply Bill for to-morrow. The Hon the Native Minister in moving the second reading of the Native Land 3 Act, 1873, Amendment Bill, said the Bill was of a purely technical character, and had no relation to the statement he was about to make, which would have been made before but for ill health. He was still suffering, and therefore asked the indulgence of the House in speaking. He had no idea last session of being Native Minister this— the greatness had been thrust upon him, or, if achieved, it had been in spite of his being the best abused man in the House in re Native affairs. The speaker then defended his conduct as assailed by Mr Fox in connection with the repudiation party. He denied aiding and abetting the acts which had taken place at Tirangi, which he had discountenanced in every way, and produced telegrams showing that the Waikato cattle stealing, of which so much had been made, was without foundation Overlooking party differences, he was pleased to say that the peace that had prevailed since 1869 was largely due to the late Sir Donald M'Lean,andhe fully recognised the beneficial effects in the North Island of the Public Works and Immigration policy. There was no danger of war in the future, even in the King country, for there the natives were becoming reconciled to their position and anxT OUS t 0 cul ti y ate friendly relations with the Europu ans> aa . (i witb P ubl ic works extended to nativb chance of native rebellion would disapptT*' Justice w native districts was administered by" * v army . of native officials, and in one district somC UmQ ago he found every man receiving Government pay. There was a large field open for retrenchment in this direction. The efforts of Sir Donald M'Lean to promote Maori education m English ought to be continued He proposed to spend this year £11,500 only on native schools, £11,500 less than last year and with this 50 schools would be supported and others assisted. Government felt it their duty to assist the efforts of the natives to suppress intemperance, and the best way to do so would be to allow natives to regulate their own districts in this. In regard to land purchase, a great error had been made in employing agents to purchase on commission such agents looked more to the quantity than the quality of the land they bought. By this means about 6,000,000 acres had been acquired but a deal of this was unfit for use, aud at least a third of it would require further expenditure to acquire a valid title. It was intended at once to close all outstanding transactions with purchase agents, to have no more buying on commission, but to employ instead responsible Government officers, and absolutely forbid anyone connected with the Native Department from purchasing an acre for himself. There were thirty million acres of land m the North Island still open for purchase, but in consequence of want of money and the growing disinclination of the natives to sell at low figures Government proposed to discontinue purchases as soon as existing transactions were complete He reviewed the action of the late Government in regard to the two Bills introduced this sessionI he {suspension Bill would have been a most unjust one. The Government now intended to provide for minors in Crown grants, and

for a better system of hearing appeals from the Native Lands Court. The appeals would be made in abundance, however, with theexisting law, from one judge who had heard the case to another who had not. This was all that they proposed to do this session. In the vexed question of native representation the Government proposed to increase special representation to seven members. Before next session Government hoped to reduce the Nature Department to a mere skeleton of what it was at present without impairing its usefulness. He thought an interview between Sir George Grey and the leading natives upon the chief questions of the day would be productive of good results, and hoped ere long to see some leading Waikato or Ngatimaniapoo a member of the House. The Europeans were now strong enough to disregard and repudiate all promises made to natives, but he mistook the temper of the House if this very strength would not be an additional reason for keeping those promises intact, and he looked hopefully forward to the time when both races would really be one people. (Great applause.) ihe total native population was— North Island 43,408, South Island 2608. The amounts spent during ten years ending 31st June, 1871, in suppressing disturbances was .£3,157,291. The amounts spent on roads in the North Island to the 30th June last was —from Defence loan, £10,750; from Immigration and Public Works loans, £471,160. During seven years ending 30th of June last, £59,197 had been spent 00 the 50 village and 11 other natives schools. For this purpose it was intended to spend £11,500 this year, and. £3500 more would be required to meet engagements and provide new schools. The land purchases in the North Island negoiated for were— freehold, 4,613,329 acres; leasehold, 1,540,081 acres. Of this only 1,967,402 acres of freehold had been completed, and none of leasehold. On the completed transactions £230,052 had been expended, £148,021 on incompleted transactions, and £102,074 jin general expenses. The balance unexpended on the Ist of July last was £158,951. In Auckland, of the £350,000 apportioned to that district, only £30,894 remained unexpended, and £52,400 was required for the current year. In Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke'sßay, in November, the available balances were in excess of the sums required this year, being us follows:—Wellingtonunexpended, £60,520 ; required, £21,725. Hawke's Bay — unexpended, £40,426 ; se» quired, £7,725 ; Taranaki — unexpended, £28,230; required, £10,000. Friday After Mr Sheehan's Native Affairs Statement the House went into Committee on the Land Bill. Progress waa reported at 1235, and leave obtained to ait again. The House then rose.