PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2317, 20 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Aug. 19. Tiro Committee on Reporting stated that in debates where personalties were introduced omissions were made by direction of the chief reporter. A continuance of the system was advised, subject to the supervision of the Speaker. Captain Fraser, in calling- for a return of the magistrate’s and wardens on the Otago gold Holds, submitted that the work now entrusted to a large and expensive staff could easily be performed by one magistrate. The Execution Against Real Estate Bill and Dentists Bill wore road a third time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE?. WEST COAST SETTLEMENT BILL. Mr Bryce moved the second reading of the West Coast settlement (North Island) Bill. The Report of the Commission had no doubt, been read by all, and but for that fact he would have gone more fully into the circumstances calling for this measure. The West Coast problem was one of much difficulty—one that had lasted for a considerable time, and bad been steadily growing. He was not going to enquire as to who was responsible for the difficulty. It was the object of Government (1) to satisfy the natives that their just claims would be fully recognised ; and (2) to convince the natives that the authority of the law must be established on the Coast. The commission devoted itself to the work of doing justice to the parlies concerned, a fact abundantly evinced by their report. They bad made many important recommendations; these recommendations pointing to a reasonable solution of the difficulty. The simple object of tbc Government was to deal with the difficulty in such a way as that it would not break out again in after years to the prejudice of tbc body politic. It was the intention of the Government in a very short time to advertise a considerable portion of the land for sale, at the same time they would take earn and cut out ample reserves, so as to reserve for the Maoris not only their cultivations, but likewise the land to which they attached special value. Government thought tbc laud regulations at present in force sufficient to settle the district. It was not intended to have military settlors or distribute the land among the unemployed. Warfare would, if possible, be avoided If they only managed a few of the first steps in peace and quietude, hebedieved the remainder of the work would be comparatively easy. It was proposed to make it a new land district, placed directly under the control of the Government, instead of a land board. The reason was to avoid complications. It was an exceptional proposal, but then the circumstances were exceptional. It was necessary that Government should have very largo powers, as without such it would bo absurd for any Government to undertake tbc work.

Sir George Grey said the report of the Commission was worthy of the colon} 7 of New Zealand. It deserved all credit, and lie fully admitted the trouble the} 7 had gone to, but he was not cqu ally satisfied with the Bill. Instead of being a permissive measure,the Bill should have adopted (ho report as a whole, and enjoyed (he full carrying out of its just and righteous recommendations.

Major Tc Wheoro complained that the reserves had been selected in the interior and not on the coast. He agreed with the Native Minister that there was no likelihood of the natives entering upon hostilities. Mr Pykc criticised the Bill, contending that this was an attempt to deal with the native race in a different manner from what they dealt with the Europeans. Air Stewart approved of the Bill as a whole.

Mr Moss said that as a political measure the Bill was bad. The whole policy was nothing but an abuse of power. It had not a spark of courage or manliness in it. It enabled the authorities to put these men in prison without reasonable excuse for so doing, lie agreed with Sir (I. Grey as to the commissioners, and that the Commissioners ought to be entrusted with the power of working out the objects aimed at. lie would like to know why it was necessary to go on arresting these men. They committed no acts of violence, they were simply protesting against an injustice which they had for the past Id years been subjected to. They had looked in vain for redress and now that they took quiet means for forcing us to consider their case, they were met with imprisonment. It was virtually saying that they would not have the protection of the law extended to the rest of Her Majesty's subjects. Mr Macandrew also protested against the Bill. It was a Bill unworthy of Knglishmen, and future history would

refer to it as something similar to the doings of the Star Chamber or the massacre of Glencoe.

Mr Tainui did not agree with the Bill, and would endeavor to have it amende;! in Committee.

Mr Reader Wood bore testimony to the skill, care, and knowledge shown b}the two Commissioners. The Bill was not entirely founded on their report, but it is proposed to settle the disturbances on the recommendations suggested in the report. This report did not recommend force, but to go to the natives themselves and negotiate terms with them. That course ought to have been adopted earlier. The language of the Native Minister that night had been quite different from what he had used only a month ago. He had stated that he did not believe the natives were actuated by hostile intentions, and in saying so he was told that he was talking nonsense. Now, however the Native Minister had altered his tone, and adopted the very language ho had previously denounced as nonsense. He agreed with the proposal of the member for the Thames that they would do well to allow the administration of the Bill to rest in the hands of the Commissioners.

Mr Ballauce demurred to the proposal of allowing the Commissioners to administer the Bill. The responsibility ought to rest with the Government of the day. He objected to the largo powers asked for under the penal clause of the Bill. He advocated the employment of military settlers. Mr Hall said it would be hopeless to think they could solve the difficulty unless they could show the natives that they meant to deal justly with them. They were strong enough to enforce their authority. He bore testimony to

(ho ability shown by the Commissioners but he submitted they could not place their recommendations in the Bill. Were they to do so, the Bill would be rendered unworkable. The most they could do was to set forth their intention of carrying out these recommendations so far as politic and practicable. It would be impolitic to vest the administration in the Commissioners, or indeed in anyone but the Government. All that the Government desired was that (lie difficulty should be settled up on the best and most expeditious terms. Mr (Sheehan moved the adjournment of the debate, as ho was too indisposed to speak. The motion was carried. BILLS DISCHARGED.

The following Bills were discharged : —Licensing Bill, Native Lands Frauds Prevention, Native Lands Contracts Act Validation, Native Lands, Stamp Unties, Native Bescrvcs, and Miscellaneous Native Claim Bills. IN COMMITTEE. The House then went into committee on the Diseased Cattle Proclamation Validation Bill, and the Electric Telegraph Act 1875 Amendment Bill. Progress was reported, and at 12.15 the House adjourned till to-day at 11 a.m.