PARLIAMENTARY

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 258, 29 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. September 27. The House met at 2.30 o’clock this afternoon. The Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment Bill No. 2, to declare that no member of the River Board was or had been disqualified as members of either Houses, was passed through all its stages. Mr Larnach then moved his rote of censure on the Government for continuing the publication of the Waka Maori. He accepted the full responsibility of its being a vote of Want of Confidence. He read letteis between Messrs Stafford and Waterhouse in 1872, showing that even then the paper was prostituted for personal and party purposes. He contended that the promise then made to discontinue this

had not been kept, and the result was that the paper was maintained in direct defiance of the vote of the House ; and the Government, in January last, by pleading justification for libel on Mr Russell, involved the country in a cost of at least £6,000. The Government was a continuous one, and could not escape the full responsibility; but even if not in Mr Russell’s case, another libel had, within the last year, been published. He then moved his resolution.

The Hon Mr Whitaker said if the vote was carried Ministers would resign, and recommend tiro Governor to send for Mr Larnaelu They were glad that the matter Was brought to an issue, which would test the question whether Ministers had the confidence of the House or not. Ho denied that the Ministry was a continuous one, and had insisted on precedence in it to show how completely he dissevered himself from Sir Julius Vogel’s Ministry, which, on important questions, he had opposed. The Hons Ormond and Reid had joined it since. Ho did not think the costs of Russell’s case would exceed £3,500, and the House would be asked to vote that. lie quoted from Hansard , to sliAk what took place when the vote struck out last session. The paper was then temporarily discontinued, but owing to representations made from all parts by the Natives, which he read, and in consequence of the large amount of support promised, the Government decided to continue the paper. Sir Donald McLean and other gentlemen gave a guarantee for all expenses, including the responsibility for all consequences ot publication. Under this arrangement the paper continued till last July, when in consequence of remarks made in the House it was discontinued. It had paid its own expenses during that time. The libels alluded to were published before he joined the Government. He recounted the history of Maori newspapers from the establishment of the Maori Messenger in 18-18 by Sir George Grey, to the present time. Ho contended that the dates and facts he had given showed that Mr Laibach’s assertions in his motion were entirely unfounded, and no honorable men could vote for such a motion after what had been stated.

Mr Lusk supported the motion, contending that the Hon Mr Whitaker’s admissions proved that the statements in the motion were substantially correct, and that the paper had been continued by the Government in defiance of the clear intention, of the vote of the House, and at public expense. The debate was interrupted at 5.30. September 28The irW/ea Maori debate occupied the House all last night, Mr Button condemned the opsosition for not bringing the matter to an issue at once, before wasting so much lime of the House on native matters. He was perfectly satisfied with the present Government, and the explanation given by Mr Whitaker. Mr Brown (Ashley) supported the motion, as the Government defied the House in disregarding the vote of last session. If the House allowed such acts to pass unchallenged, they would soon lose all control over the public purse.

Mr Fitzroy thought it clear that the Waka Maori had been supported by voluntary subscriptions since last session. Mr Hone and other Maori members were anxious the paper should be carried on, but it not having been conducted the way they wanted, they wished the publication stopped. Mr Mandcrs supported Government, but thought it was not in accordance with the House, and should be reconstructed. Jr Mr Wakefield said even if the Vvaha Maori had boon self supporting, that was no answer to the charge. The wish of the House was that Government should have nothing to do with the paper. He wanted the names of those who guaranteed the cost of the publication. Mr Harper considered Mr Whitaker’s explanation satisfactory. Mr Thomson said it was no explanation at all. Mr Gibbs thought the Government exercised a wise, discretion. Mr Hodgkinson considered the guarantors a bogus, and that a grave constitutional wrong had been done. Mr Bowen complained of the Opposition, instead of debating the Government policy, they narrowed it down to a miserable issue like this. The paper was only printed at the general desire of the natives of the colony. Mr Travers said the Government had to thank themselves for the position of the case. The House rose at midnight. The WaTca Maori debate was continued all the afternoon. Mr Curtis said the accounts showed the amount of subscriptions contributed towards the publication of Waha Maori , and justified Government in continuing the paper. Ho never saw such a paltry issue raised to turn out a Ministry. Mr Montgomery defended the action of the Opposition and said they were a compact body, who would not relax their efforts until now members were on the Treasury Benches. He attribtted disorganization of parties to Mr Stafford. Mr Sutton considered Mr Whitaker’s explanation ought to satisfy every one.

Mr Takarnoana thought if the Ministry remained ill .office there would be fighting in the Island next year.