PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 138, 5 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[I'F,U VltKriS AUHNOV.J house of repiiesentativks. AVIOI-r-IN’OToX, August The House resinned at 7.110. Mr ■ Whitaker moved his resobilions, speaking two hours. He (raveled over most of (ho salient; poinds of the history of rids Colony, as reyarded dealings with (ho waste lands of (lie. Crown, (o show that in the Colony, as was the case in all other Colonies and countries, waste lands were always the. properly of (ho Slate; and argued that the term “ compact ” was a misnomer, and had been coined since 18n(»; that the arrangement then made was merely temporary, and subject to the ratification of the Imperial Parliament ; that the Imperial Parliament washed its hands of the matter by declining to allow Provincial Governments to deal with waste lands ; that the arrangement bad never been made final ; that if it had been it would not have been altered and modified so often as it was during the last twenty years ; that the credit of the Colony was becoming veiy had at Horae; that their finances had become so entangled and intricate that no ordinary mind could get a fair idea of them ; that the only way to get out of their difficulties, was to simplify their system of finance, and to raise the credit of the Colony, was to make the land fund Colonial revenue ; that there was no legal or moral objections, and no compact between two parties, to prevent this being done ; that because the South Island had _fo>- twenty years enjoyed a pre-emptive right to the lands of that Island, it was time the Colony resumed its own, and the North Island had its turn ; that sooner or later the necessities of the Colony must make it come to this.

The Premier, in a speech of an hour and a half, traversed the main points of Mr Whitaker’s speech, and argued that his proposals were inexpedient, impolitic, and unjust. Call it what you would, compact or arrangement,, there had been a solemn understanding arrived at in 1856, and all the legislation since that affecting waste lands of the Crown was based upon the financial resolutions of that year. So firm was the feeling upon that point that no man dared, with any reasonable prospect of success, propose to upset that understanding; that when it was made the general feeling was''that the North Island had the best of the bargain, so much so that a readjustment had been provided for; that while the North gave way to pressure of circumstances, and sacrificed its land fund, the South put up with all sorts of inconveniences sooner than part wi!h their land at low prices. The Premier quoted the words of Richmond, then Mr Whitaker’s colleague, in support of his statements, and it was mere quibbling to upset the arrangements then made. He attributed the threatening financial difficulties of the year, partly to the action of those at home, who ought not to run down the credit of the Colony, and spoke hopefully of tiding over the threatened danger. He looked upon these resolutions as only a step towards. Separation, as hurtful to the public credit

and calculated to retard all the proposed legislation f< r the benefit of districts. He showed how the Public Works had increased the population and productive industry of the Colony, and placed her in a better position than ever she was to bear extra taxation, though they did not think it necessary. Sir George Grey, in a few remarks, intimated that ho would move for Insular Separation, the seat of Government for the North Island to bo Auckland, for the South Island Canterbury, and the seat of the Colonial Government to remain in ■Wellington. Mr Whitaker declining to reply, a division was taken, and the resolutions lost by 54 to 21 August 3. The House met at 2.30. __ After disposing of the preliminary business, Grey moved bis resolution in a long speech. His main arguments were that the Government proposals were not acceptable to the people ; that they wore forcing upon the country petty institutions without having, given fair warning ; that nothing could bo fairer than bis proposal ; that each island should manage its.own affairs ; that nothing was more likely to restore the credit of the Colony ; that the plan bad the great recommendation ; that it would relegate the question to the people of the Colony to decide as to exact form of government they would have. In the course of bis speech he said the finances of the Colony were in a most disastrous condition ; that the Native Department was corrupt ; that natives generally wore dissatisfied witli McLean ; that the Government were setting up a new province where Tawbiao reigi?tyi. supreme; that the Civil Service monstrously overgrown ; that the constitution of the Upper House was a gross injustice to the Colony, that the increase given in representation last year was given with a view to increasing the ranks of Government supporters. He stiongly objected to civil servants being in the Government, as in Pollens case, and referred to Vogel’s expenditure while at homo as extravagant. In conclusion, lie denied that bis resolutions would affect unity of the Colony. The Premier characterised Grey’s speech as wild, visionary, and unworthy of answer. The resolutions were crude and unintelligible, and the interpretation necessary had not been furnished by the mover ; there was, in fact, nothing to answer, and it was scarcely likely that the people would part with institutions until they knew what they were going to get. The change proposed by the Government was clear, and bad already been affirmed ; that it was in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, as it had always been understood that Provincialism was temporary. The counties of the future would be greater than the provinces of the past. He twitted Grey with the absence of all details in explaining bis resolutions, and compared the attitude bo took last year with the present. He was ardent in bis defence of the Civil servants, and maintained that Pollen had been a valuable public officer to the Colony. He reiterated that the carrying of the resolutions would 1 ead to separation. Ho believed that many of those who would vote for the resolutionwould rather cut off their right band if they thought that Grey would bo place 1 at the head of affairs. He declined to discuss flic reference to his expenditure while home, saying that G:ey had a very ignoble idea of public men of tho Colony' in thinking money was their chief motive.ildefended the Upper house, saying it did not deserve the aspersions cast upon it. As to the financial position of the Cn’ony, there was no occasion 1o lie, ashamed, provided the whole truth was told. Her exoendiinre had been immensely reproductive. 1 e no’ds ammiin red that lie would vote for measures, hut on that occasion, his sympathies w--re entirely with the gentlemen on the Government benches. Trib • strongly opp iscd the resolutions, and the debate was adjourned on the nio'iou of 11-es. Hon.se adj /tinted about one. August 4. . After the preliminary business wasfinished, the adjourned debate on Grey’s resolutions was resumed by Pees, who’ spoke up till the rising of the House at 5.30 without concluding. Ho went at great length into the finances of the colony, and argued that the financial statement was all wrong. That the figures were thrown together by guess work, and that it was done to deceive the public. Ho' said that every branch of Government as mismanaged, and that three of the Executive have no right to sit in their seals. Thehon. gentleman replied to the Premier’s remarks last night, when lie followed Grey. He (the bon gentleman) was exceedingly severe in referring to Government generally.