PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1016, 23 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 23. In the Legislative Council yesterday a question of privilege wa,a brought up, Mr. Black, of A'Jcivland, forwarding a petition complaining of remarks made about him last session by the Hon. Mr. Chamberlain. After discussion, Mr. Chamberlain expressed regret for his remarks.

Mr. Scotland's motion, " That in the disturbed districts the should be sworn in as special constables, a,nd not take tho matter into tlieir own hands by appointing vigilance committees," was carriecl,

On the debate upon the Address in Reply being resumed, Mr. Hart made a lengthy speech, in which he condemned the native policy of the Government. He said it showed the utter incomp.atsncy of the Premier. Mr, Wilson followed, with a speech in defence of "the Government, and then Sir F. I). Bell moved the adjournment of the debate.

After the transaction of some formal business in the House of Representatives, the Hon. Mr, Richardson hro.ught up a question of privilege, relative to moneys, showing that certain lines of railway had been tampered with. The Speaker promised to enquire into the matter, and the Minister for Public Works disclaimed all responsibility 011 the part of his department. Mr. Hurstliouse then wanted to know whether the Government would, during the session, introduce a Bill dealing with the classification and price of waste land with the price at which Crown are sold at, with the view oi reducing the minimum price at which Crown lands are sold. The Minister for Lands replied that the Bill lately introduced fixed, the minimum price at the uniform rate of 30s per acre, for deferred-payment lauds, and that it was not the intention of the Government to make any classification of land this session.

In reply to Mr. Ormond, the Minister for Public Works said that a communication had been received from Mr. Edwards, a settler at Kaikoura, Hawke's Bay, making a claim for compensation for damage done by a fire caused by sparks from a railway engine, and that it had been remitted to the local authorities to report on. The report had not been received, pending which the Government had not determined what course to pursue. Mr. Ormond asked if Kewi Mnniopoto agreed to give the land Reccsnry lor the construction of the proposed railway from Waikato to 2fe\v Plyii'onsh. If so, on what terms, and will the vjovernmeut lay the papers on the subject before this House. The Minister replied that all the papers in the matter would be laid oil the table in the course of the debate on the Address in reply, and other information given. Several Bills were introduced and read a first time, and the debate on the Address in Iloply and tho No Confidence Motion was resumed.

Mr. Barff, the first speaker, said the real question was whether the Government could be further trusted. He (Mr. Barff) was an ardent supporter of the Government at one time. Now, however, when he looked upon the promises and fulfilments of the Govern men. t, he considered he was no longer justified in supporting the Government. Hardly one promise made by the Premier had been carried out. Despite all the promises made, he questioned if a single department was in the state of efficiency which it had been previous to the advent of the present Government. The responsible heads of the various departments appeared to know really nothing about the working of the departments under their control. Alluding to the native question, he said he knew of appeals haviug been made by natives for their titles to lands, but when they were made in that case, the natives had squatted down on whatever land they could get hold of, and then difficulty arose between them aud the rightful owners. In the survey of the Waimate Plains, the natives had not been fairly dealt with by the Government. No reserves had been madp. The course adopted by the natives had, in a measure, been thrust upon them. Jt appeared to him that the entire reconstruction of the Native Department was demanded. He denied tl\at the Government, as constituted, represented the liberal party. They took that name to themselves, but their measures were, in no respect of the word, liberal. He made these remarks with regret. At the same time, his obligations to his constituency and the Colony demanded that he should vote for the amendment.

Dr. Wallis announced tliat he would vote for the Government. The amendment wag to his mind a most unconstitutional one, and did not attack the policy of the Government, but simply attacked some trifling acts on the part of individual members of the Government. If the amendment was carried, the result would be that a Liberal Ministry would be upset and and a reactionary Minstry set up in their place. The Government had not come up to general expectations, but then it was better to bear the ills they had than fly to others they knew not of. Many great and important reforms had been achieved by this Ministry. There were the redistribution of seats, electoral reform, the Bribery Bill, and other advanced measures which the Government had brought forward, and which, if they were kept in office, would undoubtedly be brought into law. He admitted that Ministers had committed blunders. They had been extravagant, and a variety of other charges 'might be made against them. They had multiplied billets and increased salaries all round. The extravagance of other Governments, especially the one of which the member for Egmont was a member, had been equally apparent. Then again the Ministry might not have exercised their patronage wisely. Men had been entrusted with commissions of the peace who ought r r op to have been, and the same might be said of some newiyr called men to the Legislative Council. Still these were errors common to all Governments, ai)d it was nonsense to say that they should be turned out of office on that account. He would ask the Opposition to state what their policy, if they had any, would be. He complained that so much strong, if not unparliamentary language, was rr f adp use of on both sides of the House, apd concluded by saying that if he was called upon to give' medical advice he would feel the pulse first of the member for Wanganui, and then that of

the Premier, and inform them both that they beat high. He would then tell them to submit their tongues to a similar examination, and having done so, ho would pronounce them very foul indeed. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne said that the Speech, to his fancy, contained a most complete statement of policy. It was one of great importance to New Zealand. He reviewed the various means of policy put forward, and argued that these v would permit the welfare and material progress of the Colony to continue. If the amendment were carried these measures would be frustrated, and the Colony deprived of what promised to be a great boon. He asked the Opposition what was their policy, or rather if they had any. If they had, then he would say it was not their policy, but the Government's—in fact, what the Opposition aimed at, was not only the place of the Government, but also its policy. Some of the charges brought against the Government were most trumpery, others were vague, and the remainder rested on grounds most unsubstantial. One result of the action of the Government was that Rewi and his people had declared themselves for peace and the, opening up of the country. The native difficulty on the West Coast svrpjs& from the action of the previous Governments. The Government c£ which Major Atkinson was a member- had made certain promises with regard to the confiscated lands, winch wore not redeemed. Then,. again, as soon as difficulty arose the Government took prompt and decisive steps to meet the_ difficulty w-ith regard to the Native policy as a whole. He would ask them to state where the Government was at fault. The fact was that the whole difficulty had arisen in the process of being settled by law, which showed that the policy pursued was not at fault, as had been so often asserted. The amendment was a captious one, and one which was brought in out of personal enmity. The arguments employed against the Government wgxe vague and unsatisfactory, and which if made in private life would not be entertained for a moment. On the other side of the House he failed to see either a party or a policy. Alluding to his own accession to office, he said that he was induced tq join solely on account of the liberal measures they had put up, and it would still be his best endeavor to carry out those measures.

Mr. Saunders said the policy of the Government was distinct enough, hut their custom was at variance with their policy. There was a genuine ring in the policy but it wp,& ihe same ring which had been given two years ago, which no one expected they would have been able to carry out. He would not go elaborately into the native question,, but he could see that friendly relations had not been established. But for unnecessary interference 011 the part of the Government, the present difficulties would not have arisen. When asked what they would do about the two or three plougliers, the Premie? told the settlers to do as they liked, and their action would be looked upon tenderly. A course like that was fraught, with the utmost danger to the peace of the Much as he would like to see the political reform promised, lie would infinite]}' more liVo to see honest men and men of good character oil those benches. Ho would not support a man on those benches who would attempt to hold office by the threat of sending them back to their constituents.

Mr. Rees said they had now, for the first time, been brought face to face with the great question p.; sound political reform. Tho Opposition leader had carefully avoided attacking their measures ; indeed, he left it to be implied that he was in favor of the measures, and that it was simply the administration with which lie found faulr. The only point worthy of replying to in Sir W. Pox's speech was the reference made to the native question. Alluding to the attack upon the native question, lie said it was a question surrounded by exceptional difficulty. He believed that a terrible war would have resulted, but for the confidence tho natives had in the Premier and Native Minister, If war was inevitable, the unfavorable interview between the Premier and natives at the great meeting was the outcome of the minds of the latter being poisoned by the interference of the friends of the Opposition. The fact was the West Coast difficulty had been, practically speaking, sett-led without a shot ever being tired. They might- reasonably hope this difficulty hi«cl been ended, and it was satisfactory to find that it was fixed without bloodshed. Tho speech of the Governor was a distinct enunciation of a policy which 110 other Government had ever attempted to put forward. As showing the confidence the Home market had in the Government, he instanced, the-fact that the three million lc.i\n proposed last session was subscribed for to the extent of nine millions, Hitherto the aim of government had been to get hold of public lands, make Ministerial offices and spend the public money. He and others on that side of the House had come forward for the express purpose of stemming the current of a corrupt government that had been going on in New Zealand, and despite the Opposition, they were determined to persevere in their endeavors. With such men on their side they would shatter a much more powovful organisation than that which was likely ty be formed against them. It was for the public good alone, and not fo.r wealth or honor, thatthe Premier consented to be made a target for all the arrows that were shot at him.

Mr. Jackson said when ho read the broad and liberal measures set forth in the policy lie believed the} 7 would be acceptable, and for the good of the country. He moreover thought the Government were sincere in their endeavors to carry out that policy, and under those circumstances he felt bound to vote against the amendment. The Hon. Mr. Thompson said that the Opposition appeared most unwilling to prove their case. Ho was not saying that the Government had during its two years of office done nothing wrong j still he thought the wonder Ayas they had done so very little that was wrong. There could be no doubt that the Opposition were very eager to get on those benches. That was evident from the very fact that they had refused to allow an Imprest Supply Bill to be passed. The effect of that was that no contract could be paid, and many poor men were suffering in consequence. They had also objected to allow the Loan Bill to pass. In these circumstances it was expected that a full and clear statement of the delinquencies of the Government should be made. That, however, had not been done. He would refer to the complaint about advertising. That was a difficult matter to deal with ; Governments had been accused of parti- [ ality in that respect. Had the advertising been distributed amongst all the newspapers, they, would not have gone on so strongly against the Government, and thereby the Opposition' would not have been content in, that respect. The Government of which Sir W. Fox was a member had a similar accusation made against them, and on a return being produced, it was found that the papers supporting the Government got the largest share of the money spent in advertisements. The administration of the Public Works Pepartment had been attacked, but he thought the less said by the Qppo r sition on that head the better. Enough had transpired to prove that if the mein T ber for Wanganui had been at the head of the Government for the last two years the polony would not have fared so well as it has done. The revenue derived from railways proved conclusively that they had been wisely administpred. Dr. Hodgkingon said the Government had acted prudently regarding the nonconfidence jflQtipif. He said it wag ju§t what might have been expected froiu t'mie

to time. It was a vicious proceeding. Not having been brought forward as a question of policy, it became a scramble foi office. He blamed the Opposition for attempting to bring about political disorganisation at a critical period in the history of the Colonv.

Mr. Turnbull moved the adjournment of the debate.

Ihe Hon. Sir Fox said the Opposition were quite willing to go on with the debate. He made an explanation to show that the Opposition was not responsible for the delay of getting the Imprest Bill passed. He consented to the adjournment at the request of the Native Minister, to suit his convenience.

The Premier said that it was most inhumane to seek to hold the Native Minister responsible for the adjournment, as that gentleman was laid up with sickness.

Eventually the motion for adjournment was put and carried, the House adjourning at 11.40 p.m.