PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2290, 20 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

jloess ofimrunsuxTATivEs. Mox i'.vv, d r i.v 10. I’ll I Vil, Kell'S. Sir (icurgo (drey, speaking (o a question of privilege, referred to a remark by the member fur Bangitikei, in Ids speed! on (he Maori Prisoners Hill, to the effect that Mr Tawhai had attempted (o got money paid in advance of Ids expenses as a M ost Coast Commissioner, and that on being - refused lie declined io act on the Commission, alleging that be was dissatished with his co-C'ommissioners.

Sir "William Fox said lie had never made the impntal ion attributed to him. What lie wished (o contradict was the assertion that Mr Tawhai refused to have anything t-> do with the Commission immediately he knew who were to he his colleagues. M.VuKI I’KiSOXKUS. Mr Montgomery resumed (he debate on the second reading of the Maori Prisoners, lie spoke against the measure as imprudent and unjust, as depriving the prisoners of all rights of trial. Mr Powen justified the arrest and detention of the Maori prisoners on the ground that peace must be preserved. Mr Ballance scouted the idea that a disturbance would be created if the men were liberated. He contended that a war was more likely to result from their unjust detention than from their liberation. It was To Wbiti who was responsible for the ploughing outrages, and it was be who ought to bo punished. The prisoners had been detained for over 12 mouths, and he wanted to know how long that detention was to continue. Ho denounced the member for Kangitikei for the strictures be had passed on the Opposition press on the West Coast business. Mr (i isbnnie said the principle of the Hill was not the postponement of the trial, but the abolition of the trial. The nominal oficuce. of which the prisoners were guilty was riot, which was punishable by line and imprisonment, but be thought the oil.once was something more —be believed it amounted to treason. He would not bo prepared to take the responsibilities of voting against the Hill ; still he desired it to he understood lie did not concur in many of its provisions and hoped to see these muddied and amended. Mr Hall said the Covernmcnt were anxious to allow these prisoners to go the very first moment they could do so with any degree of safety. Ho quoted from the Irish Peace Protection Hill of 1871 to show that the power asked on the present occasion was not excessive or unprecedented, but that, on the contrary, the Hill now before the House was less arbitrary than that measure. Kefcrring to the member for the Thames, be could assure that gentleman and the House that any advice the Government might give in the matter would be consistent with the dignity of the Crown and perfectly constitutional. The action of the Opposition in the mailer was unlair except that of (be late .Native Minister (Mr Sheehan), and he would always gratefully remember his conduct on this occasion. Ho had risen above party spirit, and had acted in a truly patriotic manner. He was, indeed, the only patriot on that side of the House, and deserved the highest credit for bis action in the matter.

Mr Pyke said the <lovenmicnt was h’kc I’assanio, who said “ 1 beseech you. wrest once the law to your uuthoritv. To do a great right, do a little wrong.” But what was the reply of Portia V “ It must not he. It will be recorded as a precedent. Many an error by the same example will rush into the State. It cannot he.” He thought the native affairs would never be properly adminis tcred until they bad a South Island Native Minister, who knew nothing of the native mysteries. He paid little attention to the old try of wolf. They

will always threaten with war whenever they hesitate to gave the Native Minister his own wav. The course pursued was one.of policy ami expediency, but the policy was was wrong' and the expediency begotten of dishonesty. Mr Tainui said it was the member for Egmont, who had been in the previous Government, who had neglected to return the lands to the natives as promised. It was that neglect that had caused all the disturbance. It was the Government who was to blame, and not the natives who had waited for the fulfilment of the promises. The natives had ploughed up the European lauds for tlic purpose of getting their claims looked into. If the natives were released and sent bade to their districts, he thought there would be no disturbance. Maoris imprisoned in Otago in 1873 had been released, and on being sent home had remained peaceable over since. The Bill was meant to intimidate (lie natives, for it provided they should remain in prison, and not return to Taranaki. Unless (he Government dealt with native lands the soldiers would have to remain a long time on flic West Coast.

Mr Macandrew said the greatdiflicnlty was as to what should be done with the Dill. He regretted (bat so numb . party spirit bad been imparted in (be debate. He looked on (be action towards the natives from first to last as a blunder, and this Dill appeared to be no exception. If guilty the prisoners .should be tried and convicted ; if innocent, acquitted. Tim West Coast (kiuimission’s report tended to convince him that they and not the Maoris were greatly ia the wrong. Mr Kelly said he would support the Dill, believing that (he best means tor settling the dillicnlty was opening up the district with roads preparatory to sel Dement. Mr Deeves considered this a most iniquitous measure, and be would vote against it. To pass a Dill like this would be a disgrace to the colony. He was surprised to bear any member stand up and say he intended supporting it. llather than see the measure go through he would use every form of the House to oppose it, and he called upon memhers of Ids mind to stonewall the measure.

Captain Bussell said limy bad heard a good deal about Constitutional law. They appeared, however, to have overlooked the fact that the great aim and object of all law 7 was to protect the many against the few, and that was exactly what this measure aimed at. Mr Hutchison strongly opposed the Dill, and said a Crovernment which brought forward a measure of this kind to deal with a few Maoris, would not hesitate, if it had the power, to deal similarly with its opponents then in that House. The natives, he contended, wore entitled to Hie rights of British subjects and the protection of British law ; but this Bill proposed to deprive them of both. Mr Lundon argued that the proper policy would be to bring the natives back when they bad (ho troops there, and not wait until the troops wore removed. He would vole against the Bill as being altogtehor unfair in its purposes. Mr Harris looked outlie Bill in its present shape as a wanton piece of cruelty. Major To Wbcoro said if (lie lands improperly taken away were restored, there would be no danger in releasing (he prisoners. Mir Shriinski opposed the Bill, but 111 ought it was no good prolonging the discussion. Mr Beeves said that after consulting with In’s friends lie had determined not to curry out bis original intention of using the forms of the House to intercept the Bill. Mr Ireland announced bis intcnlion of voting - against the Bill. He would do to others as he would lie done by. Mr Hurstbonse thought a good deal of false sentiment had been talked about these natives asserting their rights. If they had rights they had a constitutional means of asserting their rig!its. He was told they had not the money to do so. hut lie happened to know otherwise. Mr Speight said if the proposal had been made to continue the detention of these men for State reasons, no one would have objected to it. H (lie} - bad provided for a fair trial there could have been no objection to it. The omission of these provisions was its objectionable feature. He protested against the whole proceeding as being a reproach upon their civilisation and liumanitv.

Mr Fisher moved an amendment —'■ That it is undesirable to proceed with the second reading of the Hill until the native policy of the Government has been declared.” Mr Tole seconded the amendment. Mr Tawhai thought a wrong was committed in taking those men to the other Island, and announced that he would vote against the Hill, urging that the prisoners ought to have been brought to trial. Mr Macamlrow said lie would vote against the Hill, because they were nut keeping faith with the Maoris. Mr Hamlin opposed the Hill. At one o’clock the ‘ House divided— Ayes 28, Noes 14 ; the amendment being negatived. Another division took place on the second reading, which was carried by 130 to 14. Ayes, ;)0. Alhvrigbt Kenny Atkinson MetJanghau Hain (teller) McLean Hallance Murray Hectliam Hitt Howen UMlestoii Hryeo Hassell (teller) Hick Seymour Gisborne Shanks flail Sheehan Hirst Stevens H. Hurst Sutton I lurstlionsc Swanson • lohnstoii Trimble Kelly Whitaker Noes, 14. lie Latour Montgomery 4. T. Fisher Scddon George Tawhia Grev Te Whooro Harris (teller) Tolc Hutchinson ((llr)Tomoana Linidon Turnbull. The House adjourned, at 1.15 a.m.