Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1341, 11 August 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. GISBORNE : SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1883.

At the afternoon sitting of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday last, the Native Affairs Committee reported that they had no recommendation to make with respect to the Petition from the Poverty Bay Natives, as they thought the subject was one for a Court of law to investigate. Thereupon Mr DeLautour moved that the minutes of its reception should bo expunged from the records of the House, and said that no evidence had been adduced in support of the slanderous and libellous charges contained in the petition. No, decidedly not! And Mr DeLautoub showed that, if he could possibly prevent it, there never should be any evidence adduced in support of it. What can be thought of his assertion that he in every way “courted an inquiry into the matter,” when he, at the 'same time, exerted himself to the uttermost to defeat any attempt at inquiry into the allegations contained in the said Petition. How did he meet Mr Bryce’s proposition that the allegations should be inquired into ? If he was sincere in his protestations of innocence against those grave charges, why did he not allow and vote for the inquiry which Mr Bryce (who is beyond doubt the best judge in this Native matter) thought it rery desirable should be made. But no. The experiment was too dangerous. The truth might have leaked out, and then —but we will not anticipate. Now let us calmly survey the position, and see how the case stands. A petition is presented to Parliament containing grave charges against ceriain gentlemen connected with the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Compant' . (some of whom happen to have a seatj in the House) and asking that inquiry

be mtitie mto the said charges. The matter ie brought before the House by the Native Minister, who gives it as hit? opinion—and Mr Brice assuredly had ample reason for saying the same --that it was “ very desirable that the charges should be inquired into,” and also undertook that evidence should be forthcoming, Whereupon one of the accused parties rises and profusely protests . that he “in every way courted inquiry into the matter,” but no sooner in the inquiry attempted to be made than the same individual, together with a number of other almost equally interested parties, use their utmost endeavors not alone to stifle all enquiry then and there, but strove also to oust the very complaint itself from the House. Ta this “courting enquiry?” Is thia the action of innocent or even honorable men? Was it not a most amusing farce to allow a gentleman who though not named had been charged in the petition, and now, failing that, the pelititioncrs having been compelled to have recourse to a court of law, the writs for which have been served on the said Mr DeLau tour and Mr W L. Rees, and set forth that “ the petitioners were induced to sign the said memo of transfer or deed of conveyance by the fraud and misrepresentation of Cecil Albert DeL v utour that the order of the Court “was obtained from the said Court by the fraud of the defendant company,” through its agents, “W. L. Rees, C. A. DeLautour and Wi Fere, or one or more of them in instructing and inducing ” a certain Native “ to swear falsely before the Native Lands Court that all the pur-chase-money stipulated had been paid ” — was it not, wo repeat, an amusing farce for one of the parties accused of the above mentioned crimes to stand up and ask the House to expunge the charge from its records and by so doing to stifle all enquiry—especially when the accused “ courted the enquiry so fully” (?) Was this the action of injured innocence ? Instead of being allowed to vote on this question, should he not, having been charged with such grave crimes, in all justice and fairness have been called upon to vacate his seat until the charges were investigated Is this too much to demand now, when writs have been served and the law appealed to? The mere fact of the House refusing to investigate criminal charges alleged against one of its members is calculated to cause some surprise in the Colony, but to allow the accused to occupy his seat and use his vote in stifling enquiry into the allegations must be a matter of astonishment to the whole world. The position which Mr Bryce has taken in this matter, not alone proves him to be justly entitled him to the well-earned soubriquet of Honest John, but entitles him to the respect of all right minded and honest men ; and we ask his co-opera-tion in demanding a Royal Commission to enquire into the transactions of this notorious Company and its unprincipled touts.