PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 203, 20 October 1900, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

(PKB PJEUOB ASSOCIATION.) ' ♦ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Fbiday, October 19. (The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Urewera District Native Reserves Bill was read a first and second time, and referred to the Native Aflairs Committee.. It was decided to agree to a second conference with the Lower House on the Trading Stamps Abolition Bill, and the Hobs. Pinkerten, Beeves, and Feldwiok were appointed managers. The Public School Teachers Salaries Bill was read a second time, after debate, and committed without amendment and passed. The Mining Amendment Bill was committed without amendment and passed. Tie Council adjourned at 3.50 p.m. STONING SITTING.

The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m,

Hon. Feldwick reported the result of the conference on the Trading Stamps Abolition and Discount Stamps Issue Bill. After a heated debate the .proposals were agreed to by 11 votes to 6. The Bill is now in the form passed by the Lower House, except that in the discount stamps clause the words, "in such form and of such denomination as he thinks fit," are ■truck oat. The definition of trading stamps is, of course, extended to coupons entitling the holder to either money or goods. The Council rose at 8.10 p.m. j

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Friday, October 19. MORNING SITTING. The Home met at 11 a.m. Mr. Wi Pere gave notice to introduce _.».'■'■ Maori Representation Act Amendment Bill which, he explained, wag for the purpose of being circulated during the recess. Mr. Pirani read a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the effect that he could not at present recommend Her Majesty's Government to agree to the annexation of Fiji by New Zealand. j Mr, ieddon said the cable merely left the matter open until all sides had | an opportunity of considering the matter. He thought it was a great pity a petition from the residents of Fiji in 1885, asking that the island form an integral portion of the Australian Colonies was not agreed to. At the present time the people of Fiji were in as bad a position as the Uitl&nders in the Transvaal, inasmuch as the white people taxed them at £3 (?) a head and they had no voice in the Go yernment of the colony, and in such circumstances he had no doubt the people of New Zealand would extend a helping hand to enable them to obtain ■elf-Government. He said that geo graphically, and naturally, Fiji ought to form a part of New Zealand. Suva was only 1400 miles from Auckland, the nearest point of the two islands being only 900 miles apart The great majority of the white people in Fiji came from New Zealand, and it was the duty of this colony to assist them as muoh as possible in obtaining a closer connection with this colony. As to the' island labor difficulty, that could easily be adjusted to mutual satisfaction. The people of Fiji wished for federation with this colony. Imports from Fiji to this colony amounted to £281,000, while exports amounted to only £70,000. He moved the resolution of which he had given notice in favour of Fiji being federated with this colony. Captain Russell complained about such an important matter being brought down in the last days of the session. He referred to the difficulty that would arise with regard to coloured labour, contending that in the event of annexation the laws of both colonies would have to come into line on the question. He admitted that if the question was one of federation only that difficulty could be get ever, and thought the matter was of such great importance to this colony that he asked the House to pause in deciding to agree with the motion referred to. Legislative and administrative diffir culties surrounded the question. The Islands were not progressive as was - evident from the fact that the exports had fallen off to the extent of £IOO,OOO in five years. He protested against the statement that there was tyranny in the form of Government under which they at present lived. The population was a dying one, and the colony was dependent upon coolie labour to carry on its industries. Mr. Ward did not think the House would be doing its duty, if, after hav- . ing been petitioned by the people of Fiji for incorporation with this colony, the House did not give the question every consideration. All the motion asked was to empower the Governmsnt to enquire into the matter, with a view to seeing if a basis could be agreed to . for the federation of Fiji. It was in a sound financial position, as shown by ' the revenue which amounted to £98,000 'annually, while tha expenditure was £3OOO less. As to the colored labor question he thought there would be no difficulty in overcoming that objection so as net to interfere with the labor laws of the colony. As to the question of representation that was entirely a ' matter of arrangement. Mr. Collins said he was convinced the House would have to act very carefully in respect to opening our door to a colored and interior population of 120,000, and that it would be absolutely impossible to grant it representation on the same basis as the Maoris. As to the trade of the Islands, he did not think this colony would benefit by the annexation to a greater extent than it did at present, and that Au&fcralia would, as it now did, coatrol the bulk Oi'it. _____

Mr. Wilford, in supporting the motion, • quoted a speech delivered by the Hon. John See, of New South Wales, advocating the importance of Island trade. * The House adjourned at 1 p.m. AFTEKNOOJi SITTING. The House met at 2,30. ■ Mr. Berries continued the debate on the Federation with Fiji motion. He said what the House had to consider was not how the question would aft'oct Fiji, but how far it would affect the jntwe»ts of this cotoayj which be:

thought hid everything to lose and nothing to gain by the proposal. Reference had been made to the advantage of a cable service with Fiji, but it would be found that this colony would have to pay for that and the mail connection as well, and with a native population double that of New Zealand, ■ troubles with the natives might have I to be faced. There was also the i coloured labour question. Mr. G. W. Russell asserted there was I nothing to prevent the Government i committing this colony to annexation. i The session had been remarkable, he said, for the abandonment by the Government of several important planks i on the liberal platform. In view of - the statement by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Imperial Government was not in favour of annexation, he thought it useless for the House to pass resolutions. Mr. J. W. Thompson thought the House had quite enough to do to look leok after the interests of the colony without taking upon itself the responsibility of dealing with Fiji. Mr. Seddon said he was surprised at the tone of the speech delivered by Captain Russell in denying an opportunity lo those of our own kith and kin to the right of free Government, the absence of which had been the cause of trouble in South Africa and other parts of the world. The question was one of great national importance, not one of a day, but for all time. In view of the altered trade route between the east and west, consequent upon the completion of the Panama Canal, this colony would be left by the wayside if it did not look ahead and secure an interest in the South Sea Islaxds. He believed, also, that the experience gained by this colony in dealing wjtb the natives would prove of great advantage in uplifting ftijk natives of the South Sea Islands. As to the question of Coolie labor, he, pointed out that there were opty about 10,000 in Fiji, and these were under agreement, not to leave the island, and in due course had to be returned to India by the Government. He treated with scorn the insinuation that he was actuated by a desire to introduce cheap labor into this colony. | Then with respect to trade, the affimity | between Fiji and this colony was most marked in that the products of that island was such as this colony cauld not produce, while the people there would be good customers for the produce of this colony. He urged the House unanimously to adopt the resolu'ions which were in the best interests of the colony. The motion for adoption was carried by 40 to 19.

An amendment in chuse 3 of the Public Revenues Act was introduced by Governor's Message, to the effect that the clause shall apply only to payments which could not lawfully be made if this section were not in operation.—The amendment was agreed to.

The Public Works Act Amendment Bill of one mi'lion, introduced by Governor's Message, was read a first and second time.

Mr. Seddon briefly moved the second reading of the Defence Act Amendment Bill, stating that it practically was a machinery Bill. The principal amendments were in the direction of giving greater power to the Commandant, provision for enrolment of militia, cadet corps, and rifle clubs, and for providing rifle ranges. Another important alteration wa9 that uniforms, etc., should be admitted free. Oapt lin Russell hoped the Bill would make it clear that there should be no interference on the pirt of the Minister of Defence with the Commandant, as upon his efficiency and judgment the whole success of the forces would depend, and it should further be made clear that members of the Imperial reserve should have a definite statement of liability as to service outside the colony before they were enrolled. Mr. Hornsby was opposed to the large expenditure proposed in the Bill, and to the proposal to raise an Imperial reserve, fie would sooner see a larger expenditure in subsidising the Australian Squadron, believing that with an increase in the number and calibre of vessels they would be more effective than land forces.

The House adjourned at 5 30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. J. W. Thomson continued the 'debate on the Defence Act Amendment: Bill. He thought the best and most; economical plan to raise a defence force was by training the young people in schools in the use of arms, first train- j ing the teachers sufficiently to enable them to impart instruction in drill. , Mr. Hogg deprecated the warlike! spirit that had been engendered lately, and the expense it would entail on the colony. He advocated that the harbour defences and fortifications should be put in a state of efficiency. The scheme proposed was far too elaborate, and could only be carried out at the expense of roads and bridges. Mr. Meredith characterised the proposals as wasteful, Mr. McGuire protested against the wilful and wicked expenditure proposed in the report. He blamed the Premier for his new born Imperialism. The volunteer system should be encouraged as the most economic method of defence.

Mr. Symes criticised the details of the Bill, which he generally approved. Messrs. J. Hutcheson and Rhodes also spoke, Mr. Seddon thought he could best promote the passage of the Bill by ,s tying nothing in reply, and leave objections to be dealt with in Committee.

The second reading was carried on the voices. The Laud Tax and Income Tax Bill was read a second time without debate.

The amendment by the Council in the Trading Stamp 3 Abolition Bill was agreed to by 37 to 17. Toe Public Works Loan Bill of one oiiilioii, and the Land Tax and Income Tax Bills wero committed and reported without amendment. The Defence Act Amendment Bill was committed. In Cltusa 12, Imp9rial reserve, tho Premier agreed to amend the clause defining where a man shall seive outside the colony. Mr. Meredith objected to the formation of a reserve. Messre. Hogg and Taniwr concurred, ; The Hpu,se adjourned at 10.0,