PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2288, 17 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

riuuAV, -Jui.Y 10. AX OI’I’OSITIOX JiXTEKTAIJOLEXT. Mr Waterhouse asked the AttorneyGeneral whether' Government had any power to ston the representation ol: a play about the Kellys, about to bo played in Wellington, on account of its injurious moral effect. Mr Whitaker said he should like to stop the piece, but Government bad no power. hoxou akutm, Mr Peacock moved that Councillors should not take the honorarium this year. In speaking at some length to to the motion, the mover said he believed the present depression was not temporary but deep-rooted, and the Council might set an excellent example to the country. Sir F. I). Pull, Mr Scotland, Colonel Brett, and Mr ’Man tel I opposed the motion, which was rejected by 29 votes to 1. Kiiuc.vaox. In moving for the printing of educational returns, Mr Waterhouse alluded to the vast disparities between the cost

of education in different districts, and also the great difference in the cost of working the central Boards. The cost per child was £8 per year, and the total cost was a fifth of that of England for Education. lie pointed out several ways for largo retrenchment in the cost of education.

On the motion of Mr Whitaker, the debate was ad journed.

HOUSE OE ItERU ESENTATIVES

NATIVE EXREXIUTURE. In reply to Sir W. Fox, the Colonial Treasurer intimated that a thorough investigation of the, “ spurious vouchers,” mentioned in the report of the West Coast Commissioners, would be made. Tilt: RIVAL I'I.AV. In reply to .Mr Hamlin, the I’remier said the (iovernment had no power to stop the proposed representation of “The Kellys,” at Wellington, but the House would bo asked for authority to prevent such performances in future. IMPREST. An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was introduced by Message from the Governor and passed through all its stages. PEIISOXAL. Mr Sheehan stated that certain imputations had been made to the effect that lie bail attempted to time the departure, of the Ilinemoa from Auckland to suit Ids own personal convenience. He appealed to Mr Bryce, who acquitted him of having dflnc so. Mr Sheehan also complained that other imputations had been made against him in his absence, which, when lie got the opportunity, he would be quite able to repel. He would take, the first opportunity of doing so. MAORI prisoners. On the motion for the second reading of the Maori Prisoners Trial Bill, Sir George Grey asked that a list of the natives and (he crimes charged against, the prisoners should be produced. Mr Bryce said that a list of the kind had been laid on the table last year, so far at least as the prisoners’names were concerned. Sir George Grey replied that a return giving the prisoners’ Juanics was prepared, but a list of the offences. Mr Bryce said the return asked for would be prepared and produced in a few hours. Meantime he had hoped the motion would be allowed to go on. He proceeded to say the condition of affairs on the West Const had for the last ton years presented a problem which each successive Government had attempted to solve. He reviewed the proceedings of the various Governments. A sum of £55,000 had been voted for opening up the district by roads, and the late Government left a. body of men, trained for the work. The work done by the Government had been beneficial, despite what had been said to contrary. Before the House met again he hoped to see hundreds of settlers established on the plains. It might ho that the natives would interfere, hut he hoped not. Returning to the prisoners he said To Whiti’s influence had been growing to such an extent that the natives now came to regard him as a man endowed with supernatural power. Their object was to take possession of the lands which had formerly belonged to them. That was not an ordinary trespass. It would do little harm to allow a few of these men to go back to their district from time to time, but if they were allowed to go back in a body he felt convinced the consequences might be serious.

Mr Stewart said the Rill was, practically speaking, an acknowledgment that these men had been illegally imprisoned, and he believed they would have a claim for compensation, for injury sustained, against the Government. He strongly dissented from the Rill.

Mr Tomoana believed that if the Rill passed it would have the effect of exciting the minds of their friends. Mr Turnbull dissented from the Rill. He thought if they would release the men and place them on the reserves made for them, telling them at the same time that any breach of the peace would result in forfeiture of the reserves, it would have the desired effect. The safety of the district rested on dealing with (he natives honestly. They had proved themselves a brave people, and we had not treated them as such, though it was not yet too late to do them the justice he claimed on their behalf.

Sir George Grey regarded the Rill as an unnecessary measure, and one which violated almost every princiidc of the law. It was in point of fact a penal statute, a measure hurriedly conceived, and in which none of the ordinary precautions or safeguards were enacted. It proposed to inflict penalties on persons who might be innocent. It was different from any other measure ever before the House. Some discuss'oii arose through the Speaker insisting on the Premier, who was correcting a proof of his speech for “ Hansard,” giving him his attention and refusing to proceed until he did

B°. , Mr McLean rose to a point of order, and moved that strangers withdraw, lie thought it was a pity that strangers should be allowed to see the lamentable exhibition the member lor (he Thames was making of himself. Sir George Grey asked Unit the words be taken down.

Mr McLean asked in what way he could put (lie motion. Sir George (livy said he did not give way to Mr Maclean. The Speaker ruled Mr McLean out of order, and stated the motion could not be put unless the member for the Thames chose to give way. SirCcorgc Crey —I don’t give way remember that.

The Speaker—Will the lion, member give way to me for me for a moment. Sir George Grey signified that he would.

The Speaker —Then I will resume the chair again in half-an-hour. The House adjourned at B.lb, Sir George Grey having been on his feet an hour without continuing his speech. On resuming, Sir George Grey said he hoped the Premier would give him his attention.

Mr Hall —I assure the lion gentleman I have been giving him my attention all along. Sir George Grey—l will not answer that. The hon gentleman might have said so before this, lie then went on to say that the Governor told a deputation of the Maori members that the prisoners would be tried in January or February. Now the House should not put the Governor in the position of breaking his solemn promise. The proposals of the Bill were unjust, opposed to British law, and unconstitutional. Not only did this Government promise they would be brought to trial, but the same promise was made by the previous Government. He asked them to lay aside all party

feeling and come to the consideration of this Bill like Christian gentlemen, and not pass a law cruel in its nature on a class of men deserving of encouragement and support. Mr Tawhai said the late West Coast Commissioners wore guilty of much of the trouble. The Government had boasted of their bold but ho would like to know how it was to be called a bold policy, when they wore afraid to liberate a mere handful of prisoners, 1:10 of them, and allow them to go back to a place where there were 800 soldiers. The fact was that the Government was simply doing battle against the word of one man. Ho considered the action of the Government on the West Coast was simply inciting all the Maoris to rebellion. He did not see one good feature in the whole policy. What he said was, let the prisoners be tried at once in order that their offences might be investigated, and if they were guilty let them be punished accordingly. Ho would like to see a clause inserted providing that the trial should take place within three months.

Sir William Fox said the last speaker must have had Ins mind poisoned by some of those wicked white men. He had been misled by talcs instilled into his mind that had no foundation in fact. He charged. Sir F. D. Bell and himself with being the original cause of the trouble. The fact was that when the trouble commenced, lie was the most prominent member of the pcacc-at auypricc party, and when the second war broke out ho was on his way to England and when the third war was proclaimed in 18GS, he was living in the llangilikoi as a private gentleman. Sir E. D. Bell stood exactly in the same position as himself. He justified the Bill on the ground that it was an emergency measure, and concluded by alluding to the correspondent of a leading newspaper as “a small minded individual who was hoaxed by every tale that went abroad.”

Mr Sheehan snid tin's was not a party question, hut the last speaker made it a strong party question. lie charged Sir William Fox with having hunted clown Sir Donald McLean. He wanted also to hunt him down, hut he would have to he up pretty early in the morning. Sir William Fox had told them that he was on his way Home when a war broke out, but the faet was that he left the war behind him. To Whiti had at last Hound an apologist, and ho could not have Hound a more litting one than Sir William Fox. They wore both fanatics. They were both unfair and ungenerous. The characteristics of the bon gentleman were these : If a newspaper spoke in favor of him there was nothing too good for it; if it were against him, it was a. mean trilling print, unworthy his notice. He intended to vote for the second reading of the Fill. In that Fill they were carrying out the policy of their predecessors. Secondly, if he were Native Minister, he would just have brought down similar measures. If war broke out at present, it would he a war of extermination, and he therefore held that this was a Fill for the benefit of the natives themselves. Mr Do Latour contended that they should do what was right, not what was expedient. Mr Header Wood said Sir ( icorgo (Ircy wasipiite right in saying no such law as this was ever brought before an independent legislature under such circumstances as those now existing. In considering the question he simply asked, Would it pay? The natives who were imprisoned had simply tried to make their ease heard. An armed force was required to complete the West Coast survey, and an armed force at a cost of X'NUO.OOO a. year would be required to protect any settlers who might be placed on the road. The colony could not afford it.

Major Atkinson said the blot on our native administration was that we had always treated the natives as children. If this Hill were thrown out it would mean war. and he would not remain an hour longer in olliee. It was not true that the natives had been forced to the ploughing to prove their rights. Was it not known that the late Premier had sent two messages to To Whiti ? Sir George Grey—l never sent any messages to To A\ lull. Major Atkinson—l will prove it on a future occasion. To be precise I will say (he late Government offered to bring the native case before a Court of law, and to pay the costs. The late Government went even beyond the limits of prudence in that offer, but Tc Whiti set up an independent authority. What they were required to do was to do justice and maintain the law. He believed that the House would do justice, but it would bo madness to do justice by returning desperate men such as they had in prison to the district. Mr Moss would vote against the Hill as it stood. Colonel Trimble briefly supported the Hill. Mr Hall moved the adjournment of; debate, and the House rose at 1..‘50 a.m.