PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2298, 29 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE council

Wednesday, July 38. MU TAIAROA. Mr Wilson moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into Mr Taiaroa’s disqualification. Jifr Mantel 1 and several other members supported the motion. A warm debate ensued in which Dr. Pollen attacked Sir George Grey and Colonel Whitmore attacked Dr Pollen. The debate was finally adjourned. DILLS. The Governor’s assent was received to the Imprest Supply Bill and Maori Prisons Trial Bill. The Treasury Bills Bill was read a second time. Mr Waterhouse pointed out that by r making Treasury Bills issuable out of the colony, it would be possible for the Government virtually not to keep the promise made at the issue of the last loan not to borrow within a certain time. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF HE PEE SEN TA TI YE S.

QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, Ministers said they declined to frame a Bill amending the Constitution Act providing that all Ministers of the Crown shall before taking office have to be reelected. The Eedistribution of Seats Bill would be circulated next day. MAORI X'EISONEBS. Mr Hall desired to make a statement in reference to the speech of the Member for tlie Thames (Sir George Grey), re the Maori Prisoners Bill, in •which it was slated that the Governor had promised a deputation of Maori members, that the prisoners would be tried not later than January orFebruary. When lie heard that statement he thought it incorrect. He referred the matter to the Governor, and be bad received theGovcrnor’s permission to make the following explanation :—ln the month of December an interview took place between the Maori members and llis Excellency on the subject of the Maori prisoners spoken of, and the Governor said be would refer the matter of the trial to bis responsible advisers, but not a word was said about this taking place in January or February. The Bill under which the prisoners were detained bad not then become law. He thought at the time lie board the statement made that it was a mistake. His Excellency was not at all likely to make such a promise without lirst consulting with Ids responsible advisers.

Major To AVlicoro .said tlicy had gone to tlio Governor as they were afraid he would sanction tiie Maori Prisoner’s Trial Bill, They told him if he sanctioned it lie was to make the trial as early as possible, and the Governor replied 'perhaps it would bo Jixed for February. They asked him to lix January, and he said it would bo better in February. lie had all along been of the impression that the Governor had promised what the member for the Thames had stated.

Mr Tawhai was also present at the interview with the Governor. They asked to have the trial fixed for January, and he replied that might be rather early.

Mr Taiuui, who was also present at the interview, corroborated the statement made bv 1:1 ic others.

Sir George Grey stated that he had acted very cautiously in the matter. Ho had got a statement from the natives in writing and signed by them. lie was convinced there was a misunderstanding, but it was not by any means clear that it was on the part of the Maoris, There were a number of collateral points in connection with the statement which tended to incline his opinion in favor of the natives. NATIVE LANDS COURT. On going into Committee of Supply, Mr Thomson moved the recommittal of the .Native Lands Court vote (£10,267), with a view of getting it struck out. It had passed in the House at a late hour of yesterday’s sitting, and he wished it to ho struck out altogether. They had been told that it would be an advantage to the colony if no traffic in Maori lauds took place for a period of two years. This would be a step in that direction. Mr Sheehan defended the vote. Mr Moorhouse spoke against the proposal, contending that every possible facility should be given to bring native lairds into the market, thereby increasing tire territorial estate, and also increasing the operations of tire property tax. The motion for recommittal negatived on the voices. CLAIM. Mr Tolc brought up the case of a man named Edwards, who had a claim on the Government in respect of a vessel destroyed fifteen years ago by rebel natives. The claim was £I2SO, and he asked Government to put a reasonable amount on the estimates by way of compensation. He moved that the desired relief be afforded to Edwards. Mr Bryce opposed the motion, asserting that if one such claim was recognised a whole host of others would be sure to spring up. Tiro motion was negatived. COMMITTED OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply, and Imprest Supply, amounting to £350,000 was passed, aud also a resolution authorising the Treasurer to issue Deficiency Hills not exceeding £20,000 in virtue of the Public Revenue Act/. The following votes wore agreed to. Crown Lauds, £21,855, Crown Lands Miscellaneous Services, £13,32-1. Photographic and Lithographic printing, £2607, and Arrears of Survey, £20,500. Survey Department, £98,436 3s 4d Mr Rolleston proposed a reduction of £SOOO, which was agreed to. Native Department. —Mr Bryce said a considerable number of reductions bad been made in this department. He enumerated various officers whoso services ho had dispensed with, and salaries had been reduced considerably. Mr Macandrew congratulated the Native Minister on the reductions ho had achieved, and he hoped he would live long enough to sweep the whole thing away. The following were agreed to : Salaries and contingencies, £15,455 10s; Miscellaneous services, £307 16s 8d ; Public Trust Office, £I2BO. Volunteers, £42,640 3s 9d, Mr Bryce said Government proposed to pay six months’ capitation allowance

to volunteer corps, because it would be unfair to reduce it abruptly, as many of these corps bad entered into contracts for clothing, etc. The amount of reduction which would be effected this year would represent £9OOO. In future the capitation grant would only be paid to the corps north of Waitara on the West Coast, in the Waikato, the Thames and probably at Gisborne on the East Coast. He moved that the vote be passed subject to a reduction £9OO. Mr Hurst proposed a further reduction of £IOOO, by striking out the Rille Association vote.

The vote was reduced as proposed by Mr Bryce, who then agreed to the House dividing on Mr Hurst’s motion that the vote be further reduced by the sum of £ISOO, the amount payable to the New Zealand Eiflc Association.

The House divided. Ayes 42 ; noes 15, and the item was struck out.

The vote as reduced was agreed to. Constabulary and Contingent Defence, £188,212 17s 6d. Mr Montgomery considered that the vote should be postponed until Government had given a detailed statement of their native policy. He moved that the chairman report progress. Major Atkinson said that it was simply a proposal to delay proceedings. Mr Hurst thought it would be highly imprudent to insist upon the details of the native polic3 r in the present state of affairs.

Mr Bryce said that upon the report of the West Coast Commission, a Bill would be brought down that would afford a much more suitable opportunity for discussing the native policy. He might state in explanation of Hie proposed native polic3 r , that they intended to settle the Plains, so that to ensure any degree of safety a force would have to be maintained.

Mr Turnbull supported tie- postponement, and pointed out that the report of the Commission might sweep away this vote altogether. The bare fact that they had passed this large vote for this purpose would tend to iullnmc the Maori mind, and thereby destroy all prospect of a peaceful solution of the difficulty.

Air Macandrew pointed out that in addition to the European population, there was an army of 1000. All that was done to overawe a few hundred wretched Maoris. He thought that onohalf of the army could very well be disbanded.

Air Luudon said objection was useless, the benches were deserted, Government could do as they liked, and although it was a mere waste of money, the vote bad better be passed at once so that members could get to their homes. The vote was agreed to as reduced by £OOOO on Air Bryce’s motion. Miscellaneous services, £127 10s.

Agreed to. Inabilities of 1879-70, £342,9(1017s Gd Agreed to.