PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 20 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, August 19. In the Legislative Council to-day, A very large amount of small and routine business was diiposed of. • The motion by Mr. Peacock that the balances in the hands of Education Boards at the year's end should be repaid to the Colonial Treasurer was withdrawn on Mr. Whitaker pointing out that in that case Boards would take care to have no balances. A return was ordered, on the motion of Captain Fraser, of the number of wardens and magistrates on Gtago goldfields, with their total cost and the number of cases they heard. The mover showed that there was ample room for very large economy in the department, there being the same number of officers at high salaries and allowances as when all the fields were populated. Their work now was almost nil, and one magistrate could do the whole of it. A return was ordered of the amount of land scrip issued and exercised on the West Coast of the North Island. The amendments made by the Lower House in the Rabbit Nuisance Bill were agreed to. The Joint Stock Companies Act Amend' ment Bill was read a third time. The High School Reserves Bill was read a second time. In the evening the Canterbury Rivers Act, 187G, Amendment Bill,. New Zealand University Reserves Bill, Jackson's Bay Settlement Bill, Mining Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill/Municipal CorporaLions Acts Amendment Bill, Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, Wang&nui Harbor Board and River Conservators Board Grants were read a second time. The Execution against Estates Bill and the Dentists Bill was read a third time. In tho House of Representatives today, Mr. Sheehan gave notice that he would ask Government if it was their intention to bring down next session a Bill to abolish Waste Land Boards, On the motion of Mr. Hall, it was agreed that private members' business should precedence at to-morrow morning's sitting. Mr. Bryce moved the second reading of the West Coast Settlement (North Island) Bill. The report of the Commission had no doubt been read by all. But for that fact he would have to go more fully into the circumstances calling for this measure. The West Coast problem was one of much difficulty; one that had lasted for a considerable time and haxl been steadily growing. He was not going to inquire as to. who wa,s responsible' for the difficulty, It was oue, at all events, the present Government was not responsible for. They found it ready made, and as that they had to deal with it. It was responsible for the appointment of the Commission, for which better men could not have been found to do the work. An hon. member said " two," but he said " three because Government named three, although only two acted. He was y-ery sorry indeed to see the third gentleman retire. It was the object of the Government CI) to satisfy the natives that their jnst claims would be recognised, and (2) to convince the natives that the authority of law must be established on the coast. The Commission devoted itself to the work to do justice to all parties concerned—a fact abundantly evinced by their report. They had made many important recommendations ; these pointing to a able solution of the difficulty, tha simple object of Government was to deal with the difficulty in such a way as that it would not break out again in future years to the prejudice of the body politic. It had been said they were adopting the policy of their predecessors. He was content to do go as long as tli,e course proposed was likely to achieve the purpose aimed at. So far |rom jealousy, he was prepared, if necessary, to take advice from his predecessor in office, or from any other person who was at all likely to render valuable assistance. There was only one mode of settling the difficulty, viz., by setting apart land to satisfy the just claims of the Maoris. It should be recognised, at the same time, that it was fully determined they should be made to feel that they would be dealt with firmly. Government had opened the district by a road, and cut a number of tracks so as to intersect the district. These proceedings, he thought, had already had the effect of convincing the Maoris that it was the full intention of Government to settle the district, at the same time to do them and their olaims ample justice. It was the intention of Government, in a very short time, to advertise a considerable portion of land for sale. At the same time, they would take care to cut out ample reserves, so as to reserve for the Maoris not only their cultivations, but likewise their land, to which they attached special value. Government thought the land regulations at present in force sufficient to settle the 4isr trict. Their great aim was to, reserve a close settlement on the land. Government thought that settlers must be defended, therefore tliey rejected the proposal for planting the district with military settlers. If the Maoris were so illadvised as to interfere with the settlers, then they must by punished. A settler could not at the same time be a. soldier. It had also been suggested that, the unemployed should be placed on the land. Government, however, rejected that proposal as to some extent demoralising these men—causing them i;o rely on th,e Government, and not pn they could make off their land. Care would be taken not to irritate the Maoris, although their direct acquiescence could not be secured. He thought nevertheless an indirect acquiescence would be secured ; in faot, they had already to some extent secured that acquiescence, Government was oolite as unwilling to go to war as he believed the Maoris themselves were, and anything in reason that would prevent warfare ought to be done. He believed, however, they would be able to avoid warfare. If the natives had any desire for war, ic was not likely they would allow their most warlike brethren to be apprehended. If they only managed a few first steps in peace and quietude, he believed the remainder of the work would be comparatively easy. |t was proposed to make a se\v land district, placed directly ijnder the control of the Government, instead of a land board. The reason was to avoid complications: It was an exceptional proposal, but then the circumstances were exceptional. It was necessary that Government should have very large powers ; without suoh it would be absurd for any Government to undertake the work.

Sir George Grey said tlie report of the Commissioners was worthy, of the Colony of New Zealand. It deserved all credit, and he fully admitted the trouble they had gone to. He was not equally satisfied with the Bill. Instead of being a permissive measure, the Bill should have adopted the report as a whole, and enjoined the full carrying out of its just and righteous recommendations. In the passage of the Bill, he would endeavor to get the Bill so amended as to convince the natives that the whole report had been adopted, and that they would get all that the Commissioners recommended. The Bill should be divide.d into two parts, the one adopting the report and its mendations, and the other shpuld embody penal clauses. . If Government acquiesced in that view, he would give them all the assistance he could in passing a measure giving them all just and necessary powers. He felt great satisfaction in the remarks made by the Native Minister. • He had hoped, however, to hear him say that the

men who had made the recommendations should toe entrusted* with the task of carrying them out. A course of that kind would enable gentlemen in all respects worthy of the Colony to finish their career in a great and good work, a work which must be of great importance to the Colony in all time coming. • Major Te Wheoro complained that the reserves had been selected in the interior, and not on the coast. He agreed with the Native Minister that there was no likelihood of natives entering upon hostilities. He said that he would oppose the Bill if it was to be understood that it was to apply to natives already in custody. I Mr. Pyke criticised the Bill, contending that this was an attempt to deal with the native race in a different manner from what they dealt with the Europeans. Any Maori who was merety suspected might be apprehended without a warrant. That was a most absurd proposal altogether. So long as a corrupt Government had a servile majority at its back, he saw no hope of opposing the measure successfully. The Speaker called upon Mr. Pyke to withdraw the latter portion of his speech, which Avas done.

Mr. Stewart said the one feature of the Bill in which he agreed was that these persons were to be brought before the ordinary tribunals of the country. As regards its other provisions, they would require to be amended in Committee, but still as a whole it met with his approval. Mr. Moss said that as a political measure the Bill was bad.

Mr. Macandrew also protested against the Bill. It was a Bill unworthy of Englishmen, and the future historian would refpr to it as something similar to the doings of the Star Chamber or the Massacre of Glencoe. Mr. Tainui did not agree with the Bill, and would endeavor to have it amended in Committee.

Mr. Header Wood also bore testimony to the skill, care, and knowledge shown by the two Commissioners, and the exhaustive nature of the report and the proposals by them. The Bill was not entirely founded on that report, but it was proposed to settle the disturbances on recommendations suggested in the report. Mr. Ballance demurred to the proposal of allowing the Commissioners to administer the Bill. The responsibitity ought to rest with the Government of the day. He objected to the large powers asked for under the penal clauses of the Bill. He did not believe that the intention of Te Wniti was one of peace. When they were strong, Te Whiti was remarkably humble, but so soon as they were weak, then he showed his teeth. The Government must be strong and have power to enforce their authority, otherwise he did not believe that the district could be settled with any degree of safety.

Mr. Hall said that it would be hopeless to think they could show the natives thai they meant to deal justly with them. They were strong enough to enforce their authority. He bore testimoney to the ability shown by the Commissioners, and ; the manner in which they had devoted j themselves to th© work. The necessity !for legislation of this kind had not originated with the present Government, and the Government of which the member for Port Chalmers was a member, | despite the fact that he had seen cause to enter his protest against this Bill, had proposed even stronger measures. He quoted the Peace Preservation Bill of the late Government support of that contention. Taking that Bill into account, it was extraordinary to find him offering his protest against the measure now before itheHousei He did not think that the natives were bent on war, but on the other hand nothing was further from Te Whiti's mind than to submit to the tribunals of the land. They wanted to ; set our tribunals at defiance, and the only hope of a satisfactory solution was to give the Government exceptional powers. It was therefore in the interests of peace and of the natives themselves that the Bill was brought down. They were dealing with a state of things they did not think would last very long ; therefore he did not think there was any objection to the proposal of the member for Wanganui to limit the penal clauses to a period of fivo years. The settlers in these districts would no doubt be enrolled as volunteers, therefore all the purposes of a military settlement, as had been.suggested, would be provided. Were they to attempt to take the recommendations out of tho report, and put them into the Bill, it would in a great measure make the latter unworkable. The most they co.uld do was to set forth the intention of carrying out these recommendations so far as politic and practicable. It would be impolitic to vest the administration in the Commissioners, or indeed in anyone but the Government. All that the Government desired was that the difficulty should be settied on the best a,nd most expeditious terms.

Mr. Sheehan moved tho adjournment of the debate until to-morrow. He wanted to. speak on the Bill, but was unable from indisposition to do so that night.

Mr. Bryce concurred, admitting that it was evident Mr. Sheeham was unable to take part in the debate that night, and they would therefore agree to the postponement aa soon as other members had spoken.

Mr. Saunders took exception to the report of the Commissioners, The main reason of the war of 1860 was that the Arms Act of Sir George Grey was repealed," thereby enabling natives to arm themselves. In that respect the report was defectivej aa it did not allude to the fact.

Colonel Trimble moved the adjournment of the debate till to-morrow, at 7.30, which was oarried. Mr. Bryce said that there were a number of Bills 011 the Order Paper that he saw no chance of passing this session. He therefore moved to discharge the following : —Native La ; nds Frauds Prevention, Native Lands Contracts Act Validation, Native Lands Stamp Duties, Native Reserves, and Miscellaneous Native Claims Bills.

Agreed to, and the Bills, were discharged. Major Atkinson, gave notice that he would asl? for a further Imprest Supply to-morro.w. Mr. Hall moved the second reading of the Diseased Cattle Proclamation Validation Bill. Carried.

On the motion of Mr. Dick, the Licensing Bill was discharged.

The House then went into Committee on the Diseased Cattle proclamation Validation Bill.

Progress was reported, and at 12.15 the House adjourned.