HOUSE OF COMMONS.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 591, 13 December 1851, Page 2

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

SATUriDAV, JIIT.Y 26. The House then went into Committee on the New Zealand Acts, when Mr. Hawks moved a resolution for leave to bring in a bill for regulating the affairs of certain settlements established by the New Zealand Company in New Zealand. Tho resolution having been agreed to, theHouse resumed, and the resolution was reported. The bill was then brought in by Mr. Nawes, Avas read a first time, and was ordered to be read a second time on Monday.

Monday, Juj,y 28. Mi\ Hawks moved the second reading, and briefly explained the nature of the bill. The settlers had instructed their representatives here with the mode of distributing the Nelson fund, .so that no objection could be made as to this part of the measure. The bill was rendered necessary in consequence of doubts having arisen whether the New Zealand Company had not exceeded their powers. Jt might be said, indeed, that all the settlors ought to be consulted as to the transfer of the land, but this was scarcely practicable ; any other objections to bo urged against the bill would be best brought, forward in committee. IFo trusted they would allow the bill to pass the second reading now. Mr. JiiioTinsittoN moved the House should adjourn. (Hear, hoar.) The motion would lead to discussion, and it was understood no opposed motions should be taken after 12 o'clock. Mr. (jljAJ)stonj! confessed the statement as to^ the bill was not broad enough to satisfy him. If it was doubted whether the New Zealand Company hail not exceeded their powers, the proper thing to do would be to bring in a bill to ratify what the Company had done. (Hear.) Jt was plain (he question was one on which the settlers ought to be consulted, but they had not had the smallest opporl unity of stating their views, and were not aware that the House was going to alter the terms of purchase. He objected particularly to the two Jir&t clauses of the bill. Ho protested against the attempt to press a measure to destroy tlie mummiM price of land in the colony, within nine days of the prorogation of Parliament, and without the knowledge of the colonists.

Mr. Y. Smith considered the bill as another instance of bit by bit legislation lor New Zealand. The Ciiancem.ob of the ExcHKdur-ii wished the House to allow the bill to bo road a second time, ou the understanding that the clauses objected to by the right honorable gentleman should be considered in Committee, and, if found objectionable, omitted. Sir. AmiEULKY would not oppose the second reading, if the Government would give a pledge that the objectionable clauses should be abandoned Mr. Agmoxiiy declared that the New Zealand Company had no interest in the bill. He thought the clauses objected to should not lightly be surrendered. The House then divided, on the motion of Mr. Brotherton for the adjournment of the House, when the numbers were — For the adjournment 8 Against it 51 Mnjority against it 48 Mr. Abdeiiley then moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr. Gladstone pressed the Government for home statement as to the necessity of the first two clauses of the bill. The CiiA>cEr,r,oii of the Exchequisu said, that if the House would agree to the second reading of the^y then, he would undertake to eommunicatS^vith his noble friend the Secretary for the Colonies, eavly to-morrow morning, and inform the House, at its sitting to-morrow, whether the first two clauses would be pcrscvcied with or not. Mr. Adjxrrmsy thought the second reading should be delayed till they heard the decision of the Government with respect to these clauses. The House then divided upon Mr. Addcrley's motion, when the numbers were — For the adjournment of the debate... 17 Against it » ... ... 34 j

• Majority against it 1 7 The bill was then read a second time Wl DNLSDAV, J(JI.V 30. The New Zealand Settlements Bill and the Lunatics (India) Bill, severally went through Committee. Fiuday, August 1. On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Air. Y. Smith said he was perfectly aware how fruitless it was to oiler any opposition to a Government measure upon the Ist of August, but he must still repeat his protest against the bill itself, and against the manner in which it had been introduced. He believed that more bad bills were passed in the dog days titan in all the rest of the session put together. The early part of the year was taken up in party conflicts, and at its termination the arena was left clear to the Government to introduce what measures they pleased, and in the present instance it appeared to him that his lion, friend had stretched the license to its utmost limit. The bill was not an unimportant one. It proposed to give the Go vernment power to siller contracts, to alter the boundaries of settlements, and to establish new trusts for certain purposes. Altogether, it was of a most objectionable nature, and he protested against its being brought forward at this period •of the year "without any explanation of its proyifaions. Mr. llawes said, he had already fully explained the provisions of the measure. The object of the bill was this : — The New Zealand Company, and all who had formed settlements in that country, had issued certain terms of pui'chase. Those terms had been considered by lawyers a? legal contracts, which could not be varied either by the Government On the one hand, or by the settler, who might purchase land under those contiacts, nor without the consent of every selller within the settlement. That had been found so exceedingly inconvenient, that the New Zealand Company had been forced to make an alteration in their terms of settlement. There lmd been great doubt, however, whether those alterations were Mlrictly legal. The Canterbury Association had 'found it necessary to reserve this power in their terms of purchase, and the Otago Association had .prayed that it might be lodged in the hands of the Government. The bill was purely a practical measure for the benefit of the colonists, and it in mo way affected the question of any future arrangement or discussion of the constitution. lie proposed, however, in deference to some representations which had been made to him to strike out the second clause. The second clause was then expunged, and the bill was read a third time and passed.

To the Editob op tjik "Times." j Sin, — A. bill is about to be introduced into the House of Commons deeply affecting tho interests of tlio colony j of New Zealand. As the honorary political agpnt of the settlement of Wellington, and as a colonist in per- i son, will you allow me thu u«e of your columns to call attention to tUe subject, which I will do as briefly as possible 1 1. I/i 1846 fc - 7 Her Majesty's present Government admitted a claim made by the Now Zealand Company to compensation for losses nlleged to have acciued by reason of the acts of the Home and Colonial Governments. It was finally adjusted by the waste lands of the Southern Province being vested in the Company act of Parliament) for three years, with the option to the Company of discontinuing; its operations at the end of that term, or carrying them on for a longer period, as it might think proper. A debt due from the Company to Government of about .£230,000 was to he cancelled; and in case of its discontinuance at tho end of tho term it was to have the sum of £260,000 as compensation for lost capital and other expenditure, secuied to it hy ft chaige on the land fund of the colony, with anlwest at 3J per cent. *2. The Company discontinued its operations at tbo end of the term July 5, 1850. 3. In the Northern Province of the colony, tho Government has granted away About 300,000 acres of land (chiefly to land sharks claiming under alleged purchases from tho natives), without receiving any consideration, or raising any fund applicable to immigration or public übcb. In the Southern Province the Company, lias disposed of abovo 400,000 acres to pnvato pA»! j three-fourths to absentees, and one-fourth vioiUout money consideration. 4. Tho result is, that tho land tnnr>ot is glutted. ■Government cannot sell land in either I'iovince, and there is no land fund. 6. Tho Company having discovered this, nnd perceiving that, however good a security it way have for repayment of its principal many years hence, it has no piospect of receiving tho current interest, now piopt)3o» by tho hill in question to obtain an additional spcuiity upon the gcneial revenue of tho colony, their flebt to take precedence next after tbo civil list. There are some provisions for the optional conversion of tho Block representing this (iharge into "remission orders," to pass as cash at the future land sales in the colony. It would require too much space to sift this part of tho scheme, but 1 will observe that it is fraught with conhequences very injurious to the colony. Tho dungeon the geneial revenue is, however, the point to winch J wish to call attention. 0. The ordinary revenue of tho whole colony is about £50,000, nearly the whole of which is at present absoibed by official establishments nnd police. Hut if the colonists hud tho control of their own nfVjijrs Micie is no doubl they would greatly reduce tho cost of g«vt>»nment, and secure a eurplufl for public uhcs. JJofbro they can do so, if this bill passes, tboy will hnvo to pay ihe Company £bOOO a-yo;u (increasing at fixed peuods to a larger amount). Tho levonue is already chained with about £(30,000 at U per cent., aribing out of pro* vious rntßgovornrnoiit, and there ia ovwy pionpect of the interest, a-, least, of Uio pensioner emigration debt (probably over £ 100,000 principal) being added to Us buidens. (See Parliamentary I'upa s, August, 18.'>0.) 7. The whole question of the administration of tho waste landH lias boon thrown into confusion by certain decisions of the Supreme Court. (Sco Parliamnilun/ Papers, August, J B5O, p. 3, &c.) Jf must, at an eaily day, bo brought under the attention of the Legislature. T.t« question of self-government and a constitution mutt also be brought /oi ward' next seu&ion. i^ord J.

Ritiscll jHOim.s d it it) monlit? ngo, but has let thfo session p.m without doing anything. (ihuiMud, May 13, IaSO.) fj. Thee importnnt subjects, including (lie Company's measure, arc mumutcly vonnecte.il , and ought to be legislated on as one. What will be ibo vnhie of Holf-govornmont to the colony if the land fund ntul surplus lovenue have boon forestalled before handing them over to their administration I 9. On the part of the colonists I protest against the measure. 1. Because it is moinUy unfair to saddle them with a debt duo irom the Home (lovernment to the Company, and admitted to have accrued by ronson of the wrongful acts of the form or, with which ihe colonists had nothing to do. 2. Because it is unconstitutional for the Homo Government to take (or chftrge) , the revenue of tho colony ior the purpose of compensating home interests. New Zealand is not a Crown colony. Jthasa constitution, given under piovisions of acts of Parliament, though a defective one. To make it a Cruwn colony it ought to he governed by orrfots in Council, which it is not. Tins point was laisod by Mr. Gladstone on Thursday night, when ho succeeded in getting the measure postponed till Monday on a point of form. 3. A measuio of so much impoitancj ou»ht to ho thoroughly discussed, and not lain led through Parliament utter the With of July. 10. I cannot think that if the nature of tlto measure h uudeistood it will be pies-ed forward this feespion. Jlor Majesty's Ministers, in whose handq tho bill is, can have no iuteicst in getting- themselves into hot water with tho colonists, lndepondent members can bare no dosiie to puss a mcasuse without full discussion ; and thoso hon. members of tlie House who are also mcut burs of the Company, actuated by those feelings of delicacy which always distinguish the English gentleman, will certainly shrink from tho responsibility of urging forward an objectionable bill in tboir capacity of legislators, which has no other object orai/n than to put money in their pockets as members of the New Zealand Compnny. J have the honour to he, Sir, Your obedient Servant, YViluaai Fox. Parthenon Club, July 26.