PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 140, 12 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEB PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 9. The House resumed at half-past seven ' last evening, when Mr Hodgkinson, in a long speech, supported Sir George Grey’s resolutions. Mr Bryce opposed the resolutions, and deprecated any change of Ministry. Mr Whitaker went more into an explanation of the nature of the proposed scheme than any other member of the Opposition. Ho said the stumbling block hitherto regarding financial separation had been the apportionment of the public debt, but now, that being settled, there was no-longer any difficulty in the way of arranging the whole matter, for which he cited several precedents. Mr Bowen replied to Mr Whitaker. The House adjourned at 12.35 a.m. The House met at half-past two o’clock this afternoon. Mr Reader Wood took up the Separation debate. He defended the charges made by Mr Rees against the Ministry as being well founded, and meriting more serious treatment than that they had received.

Mr Stafford followed in opposition to the resolutions ; but the first part of his speech was taken up with replies to personal references to his own political career by Messrs Hislop and Hodgkinson. He considered Mr Whitaker’s resolutions a reality, and a solution of a great question that must force itself upon the people of New Zealand yet; and if Mr Whitaker Irmght them forward nest session, he would promise him a larger dumber of votes than he had the other day. Ft' George Grey's resolutions, on the other hand, were a sham, and would not beathe test of examination by any one at all acquainted with the financial arrangements of the colony. He deprecated the general attitude of O tago members in endeavouring to segregate that part of the colony. He ridiculed the statement of Mr Whitaker as to the happiness of the colony when governed as two provinces, and cited circumstances to show that the reverse was the case, and that it was the intense dis-

satisfaction then that had led to the’ adoption of the present constitution. The hon. gentleman was interrupted by the arrival of 5.30.

August 10. The House resumed at half past-seven last evening, when Mr Stafford went on with his speech oh Sir G. Grey’s resolutions until 9 o’clock. He did not agree with ,the hon; member for Waikato that there was such a necessity for immediate change. Individually, he was satisfied to fall back upon the Abolition Act of last session. He twitted Sir George Grey with offering to spend money in defence of the old provinces last year, yet now was anxious to destroy them. He would prefer absolute colonial separation to that—then each country could work out its owip-'dcstiny. Under the present proposal,'-'however, there must be an immediate difference over the Customs. ' Where were the powers between each island to begin, and where' end ? Therewould be various differences between the two islands as to the ocean , postal service ; and telegraphic communication with the other colonies wquld be affected. Besides, they had not .provided for all the financial difficulties as between one and the other, neither was there any provision for liabilities in course of creation. The arrangements proposed would be nothing like sufficient to provide for immigration, public works, and harbours especially. These alone would absorb the whole of the imaginary balances. How were they going to define the different powers between the two Legislative Assemblies ? What Auckland might consider absolute liberty would be considered slavery by Wellington, Marlborough, or the West Coast. It was all very well to talk of the extravagance of the Ministry, but it was the demacriVof the people that caused that extravagance. What had they seen in the past but extravagance of the provinces. If Auckland, was not extravagant, it was because she had not the money to be So., At the same time, she had been notoriously guilty of extravagance ; she had borrowed half-a- nillion for a railway between Onehunga and Mercer, which was never made. Ho was certain that under these proposals large centres of population would dominate over the. country. One error in the past was making the land fund arrangement of 1856 permanent. Another error was that the public works scheme had not made the land fund part of that policy, and. that provinces should cease from that time. They had no right to interfere at all then, unless there had been a great national interference that would have .’prevented the present discontent. He regarded himself more as a member for the colon}’’ than as a Canterbury member. The relations of one part of the colony with the other parts made them so closely associated, and so interdependent upon each other, that any segregation must be regarded as a national calamity. Mr Stout supported the resolutions, and combatted the principal arguments of- Mr Stafford and others opposed to theim Mr Eolleston made a discriminatory speech as to the present position of affairs and the proposals of the Opposition, and announced that, considering the wishes of his constituents, and the crude unsatisfactory nature of the proposals of the member for the Thames, he could not support them. Mr Joyce supported them. The House rose at 12,35 a.m. The [louse met at 2.3/) p.rn. to-day. Mrßallance then took up the debate on Sir George Grey’s resolutions,, and spoke eloquently against them. Mr DoLatour, who followed, spoke uptill 5.30 p.m. in support of the resolutions. August 11. The House met at 2.30 a.m. The Premier in reply to Mr Rees regarding the appointment of Agent-General said the Cabinet had not discussed the matter at all yet. The Native Minister introduced the' Nalive Land Sales Rill. This started a debate, Sheehan availing' himself of the opportunity, to show how unjust to natives, and inconsiderate of their wishes and interests, it was, to bring down a bill of such vital interest to them, and hurry it on without giving them any opportunity of expressing any opinion upon it. .He suggested the bill bo referred’ to a select committee. The Premier explained that the object of bringing tbe bill forward was to get the second reading as early as possible, and then refer it to a select committee before’ going further. . The discussion thus originated was kept' up until the House rose at 5.30 p.m., without any time being fixed for the second reading. Karaitiana and Tairoasaid the Bill should be circulated amongst natives, before being considered in the House. During the course of the debate, certain’ things in connection with the management of natives, and action of the Native Minister were sharply .criticised by Grey, Sheehan, and Wakefield. Stephens is to speak at 7.30. on Separation debate.