PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5094, 21 July 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, July 20. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 NOTICES. A of notices of motion "were given for. the appointment of committees, and leave to introduce certain Bills, and for production of correspondence in relation to different subjects. Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice that on Wednesday next he would move,—That copies of all correspondence between the Secretary of State and his Excellency the Governor, relative to the declaration of titles conferred upon colonists of New Zealand during the interval between 1870 and 1877 be laid upon the table. In reply to Mr. Burns, the Hon. Mr. WHITAKER stated that the question of settling claims for compensation, raised by the natives of the Middle Island, had been considered during the recess, and a proposition would be laid before the House during the present session. ... PAPERS. A number of papers were laid upon the table by the Hon. Mr. Ormond, and ordered to be printed. _ BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time : —Bill to amend the New Plymouth Harbor Board Ordinance, 1875; the 'Native Band Court Bill; a Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to goldfields; and a Bill to make provision for the incorporation and management of charitable institutions. ; STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. On the motion of the Hon. Major ATKINSON, the following gentlemen were appointed a Standing Orders Committee ;—Mr. Speaker, and Massrs. Bunny, Curtis, Maoandrew, O’Rorke, Richmond, Seymour, Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Travers, and the mover. COST OP RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK. Mr. BURNS moved,—That there be laid before this House a return showing the number of contracts accepted for the manufacture of railway rolling stock at the various centres of railway communication within the colony, specifiying the various articles manufactured at each place, and the sums paid or to be paid for each article, and the number contracted for ; also, the quantity of all rolling stock imported, and the cost of each article delivered on the various lines within the colony. On the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. Ormond, the motion was amended by adding that a return should also be given showing the relative cost of the railway stock constructed in the colony and that imported. The motion as amended was then put and carried. SALE Of THE P.S. LUNA. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE moved for copies of correspondence relating to the sale of the Colonial Government steamer Luna in about the month of April last. He was very strongly of opinion that valuable public property should not be disposed of by private contract. He had heard it stated that the Go vernment contemplated selling the Hinemoa, and he hoped that if such were the case a different course would be adopted than that taken in disposing of the Luna. • The Hon. GEORGE McLEAN intimated that the Government would afford the information asked with pleasure. , He agreed with the Hon. Mr. Gisborne’s remarks as to the sale of public property as a general rule, but there were exceptional cases, where it was advisable to effect private sales, and he might state with regard to the sale of the Luna that the Government had full value for that steamer. With regard to the Hinemoa, the House could do with her what it pleased. NATIVE PETITIONS COMMITTEE.

, The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER moved, and it was carried,- —That a select committee, to consist of eighteen members, be appointed to consider all petitions, reports, returns,, and other documents relating to affairs specially affecting the native race, that may be brought before the House this session, and from time to time to report thereon to the House ; with power to call for persons.and papers; five to be a quorum. The committee to consist of Mr. Bryce, Mr. Carrington, Hon. Mr. Fox, Sir G. Grey, Mr. Hislop, Mr. Hursthouse, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. McLean, Mr. Nahe, Mr. Rolleston, Captain Russell, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Taiaroa, Hon. Mr. Tawiti, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Williams, Mr. Woolcock, aud the mover. A HOUSE COMMITTEE. The Hon. Mr. ORMOND moved, —That a select committee, to consist of thirteen members, be appointed, with power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council, to provide for the convenience of members of both Houses; three to be a quorum. The committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bastings, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Fitzroy, Dr. Heuxy, Sir. Montgomery, Mr. Johnston, Hon. Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Rolleston, Captain Russell, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Stevens, and the mover. Mr. MURRAY moved an amendment to the effect that the expenditure should not fall upon the revenues of the colony. Mr. MANDERS objected to the amendment.

Sir GEORGE GREY would suggest certain alterations in the management of the Barliameht buildings, which, in the first place should be devoted entirely to the members by the Legislature, now that the public offices had been removed to the new Government buildings ; and he would move that all arrangements in connection with the House should be vested iu the Speaker of this House. It was necessary that the comfort and convenience of members should be consulted. Bellamy’s should be exclusively for members, and the lobbies should be as much as possible kept clear of persons not members of either branch of the Legislature. Mr. FITZROY objectedto the amendment as unnecessary and opposed to the usage of other colonies.

Further discussion ensued as to whether Bellamy’s should be self-supporting'. The Hon. Major ATKINSON remarked members were entitled to reasonable means of comforts during the session, such as consisted in being able to obtain tea or coffee at night. The extra expenditure simply amounted to the wages of the servants. - The question was then put that the words proposed to be added be so added, and a dividivision taken; the result being that the amendment was negatived by 31 to 26; and the motion as originally proposed was then put and declared carried on the voices.

Sir GEORGE GREY gave notice of his intention to move that no persons other than members of the Legislative Council should be admitted to Bellamy’s. PETITION COMMITTEES APPOINTED. The Hon. Mr. McLEAN moved, —That a select committee, to consist of seventeen members, be appointed, to whom shall be referred all petitions presented to this House, with the exception of such as complain of undue returns, or relate to private Bills ; and that such committee do classify and prepare abstracts of the same in such form and manner as shall appear to them best suited to convey to the House all requisite information respecting their contents, and do report the same from time to time to the House; and that such committee have power to report their opinions and observations thereupon to the House. The committee to have power to call for persons and papers ; five to be a quorum. Such committee to consist of Mr. Baigent, Hon. Mr. Bowen, Mr. Burns, Mr. Dignan, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Murray, Hon. Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Seaton, Mr. Shrimski, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Swanson, Mr. Tole, Hon. Mr. Richardson, and the mover. Mr. KELLY moved an amendment to the effect that the list of exceptional subjects be extended by inserting after the words, “ Private Bills ” the following words:—“ All native petitions or notices, and petitions relating to the waste lands of the Grown or goldfields.” The amendment -was negatived, and the motion as originally proposed waa carried. A committee was next appointed to consider all Bills and petitions that may be introduced into the House affecting the Waste Lands of the Crown, and to report generally upon-the principles and provisions they contain. THE ADDRESS IN REPLY. . Mr. BEETHAM, in moving the address in reply, said the task was one in which he felt

extreme pleasure. He was not altogether a conservative ; but still he reverenced the timehonored customs which we had adopted from the old country. He should for the convenience of the House make his remarks as brief as possible. In the first place, whilst in terms of the address before him reciprocating the congratulations of his Excellency upon the progress which has been made during the past year in the development of the resources of the colony, upon the prosperous condition of its chief industries—agricultural, pastoral, and mining—and upon our continually improving relations with the native people, he regretted that no reference was made to manufacturing industry, but he hoped in future that would be one of the items in his Excellency’s speech, for it must be evident that without the manufacturing interests New Zealand would never be able to become in reality the Britain of the South. With reference to the gratification expressed by his Excellency in consequence of the visit he had paid to a large portion of the South Island, he would point out that there were many other districts in the colony, the inhabitants of which earnestly desired a visit from his Excellency, in order that they might testify their loyalty for the Crown and respect for its representative. The House desired to express its deep sympathy with the opinions expressed by his Excellency respecting the loss sustained by the Government and the colony through the death of Sir Donald McLean, of whose devotion to the duties of Native Minister, and unceasing exertions to benefit the native race, it has had so many evidences. Sir Donald McLean’s history offered a bright example. He had commenced in a humble way on arrival iu the colony, but through his ability and earnestness had obtained a very high position, and one in which he had been of great service to the colony, and at last he had died in harness. Turning to another subject, it was gratifying to members to have the assurance that the large changes caused by the cominginto operation of the Abolition of Provinces Act, and by the legislation of last session had been effected with little public inconvenience, and without the disturbance of ordinary administrative routine throughout the colony ; and to state that we concur with the advice given to his Excellency, that this satisfactory result is greatly owing to the loyal assistance and exertions of those gentlemen, members of this Assembly, who, in the respective provincial districts, consented to hold temporarily the honorary and responsible positions of Executive officers. He (Mr. Beettham) was desirous of giving his meed of praise to those gentlemen, many of whom had acted as Executive officers at great personal inconvenience, and at the time same were doing violence to their political feelings. He hoped that at some future date the House would testify its gratitude in a substantial manner for the services which these gentlemen had rendered the colony. Mr. Beetham then referred to the other clauses in the Counties Act, and begged to assure his Excellency of the satisfaction felt by the House at learning that Captain Campbell-Walker had prepared ah instructive and interesting report on the forests of New Zealand; and our desire that the important question of forest conservancy and management should be fully discussed; to assure his Excellency that we shall carefully, consider the estimates of expenditure for the current year; and that the papers relative to further negotiations for the inscription of our colonial stock by the Bank of- England shall also receive consideration; and to assure his Excellency that we desire to remedy defects which have been found to exist in the Counties Act, and that the legislation necessary for the purpose shall receive our earnest attention. He further assured his Excellency that the other measures whichmight be placed before the House, would be carefully considered, and thanked his. Excellency for informing them that among those measures would be a Bill to make further and better provision for education in this colony; a Lands Bill which would to some extent consolidate the existing law, and would afford great facilities for the acquisition of land for cultivation and settlement; a Native Lauds Bill; and a Mining Bill to consolidate and amend existing laws relating to the goldfields. In reference to the Native Lands Bill, he might state that he had recently had an opportunity of ascertaining that the natives in different districts had devoted a good deal of attention to this subject, and no doubt a number of suggestions would be forwarded during the session from committees formed for the consideration of this important question. Mr. Beetham then moved formally the address in reply to his Excellency’s speech. Mr. F. SUTTON seconded the motion, remarking that Mr. Beetham had left him very little to say ; he would, however, offer a few remarks. In the first place he regretted that the speech of his Excellency did not contain any reference to the commercial interest, the condition of which was not so satisfactory as it should be in comparison to the agricultural and pastoral interests, and this he thought -was chiefly due to the fact that taxation had been hitherto chiefly thrown upon the commercial and laboring classes. It would, he maintained, be found necessary to relieve these classes of society, and throw a fair share of the burden upon the large property holders. Mr. Sutton then briefly referred to the clauses in the Governor’s speech as to the satisfactory relations now existing between the Maoris and Europeans, a fact which was due to the caution of the late Sir Donald McLean. • The Counties Act would require to be amended, and no doubt would, with other subjects to come before them, receive the earnest aud careful consideration of the House. Mr. DELATOUR referred to the custom that a vice-regal speech should be but a formal matter, and objected that this rule had not been observed in this instance ; that course had not been followed. Certainly it was improper that the name of Sir Donald McLean should have been singled out for praise, for this reason that it was peculiar and without precedent. If Sir Donald’s private character had alone been referred to, he should have been the last to have objected ; but what was asked was an expression of approval of the native policy of the Government. Mr. MANDERS felt disappointed that the Government had not come down with a broader programme.

Dr. WALLIS asked the usual indulgence accorded to young members, and congratulated the hou. gentlemen who had moved and seconded the address on the manner in which they had performed their duty. Still the praises they had accorded were not justified, for the speech was the baldest and barest thing of the kind he had ever seen, and the programme it set forth was exceedingly scant. The speech was full of sins of omission and commission, the latter class applying to the Counties Act, the Education Act, the Native Lands Act, and other measures. He addressed a few words to each of the measures referred to. The Native Lauds Bill he had spoken of. Of the Counties Act he would say it was simply a measure for increasing local taxation —it was simply another taxing machine. There were three of these machines—the General Government machine, the road board machine, and the county machine, each grinding away simultaneously, the result being that the people were ground to the dust. Of course there must be a General Government system of taxation, but where was the necessity for the other two ? He hoped the Counties Act would be improved by improving it off the statute book altogether. As to the education measure promised, he hoped it would not be an extension of the present sectarian system; for he called the secularists a sect. There was no such thing as secularism, and he hoped there would not be education measures to shut out from schools the Word of God. He had referred to the Native Land Bill, and spoke of it as being an unjust measure, and one which if it came into force would deteriorate the tone of the feeling at present subsisting between the races. The sins of omission were the want of reference to necessary temperance legislation, and electoral representation. Legislation on both subjects were necessary. Another sin of omission was the failure to refer to the necessity for making the land fund common colonial revenue, and for separating the islands. (Applause). Mr. THOMSON took exception to Capt.

Campbell-Walker’s report having' been mentioned in the speech, especially as the report was-of_no. more value than the paper upon which it had been written.' Other clauses were also objected to as being improper, and he quite approved of what the member for Mount lda had said in respect to the unconstitutional introduction into the speech of a reference to Sir, Donald jMcL/ean. j?he practice was not observed at Home of introducing allusions to the death of political men in the Queen’s speech,' and should not be done here. It made the Governor appear to identify himself with the policy of the Government. The address was then agreed to. ’ FINANCIAL STATEMENT* The Hon. Major ATKINSON intimated that the Financial Statement would be made either on Friday next or Tuesday week. The House then adjourned.