HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3389, 1 November 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. THE NATIVE PBISONEBS.

Mr Tonioana gave notice that lie would ask the Government what steps they proposed taking with the Maori prisoners now in custody. In reply to Mr Hislop, Mr Hall said the Government would carefully consider the advisability of introducing a Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to Resident Magiitrates' Courts, District Courts, and Supreme Courts, with a view of simplifying them, and with a view especially of rendering less expensive the trial of cases at present only within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

THE LATE GOVEBNMENT AMD THE EIECTIONS. Heplying to Mr Saunders, Mr Hall said that there, were telegrams sent by the late Ministry on electioneering subjects as public telegrams, and if on examination, the Government considered they would not be prejudicial to the public service, copies thereof would be produced.

SIE JULIUS VOGEL. - Hon. Mr Gisborne asked the Premier whether the Government agree in the recorded opinion of the late Government; that the Agent-General of the colony should not be a candidate for a seat iv the British House of Commons.

Mr Hall replied that the Government concurred in the opinion of the late Government.

Hon. Mr Gisborne also asked the Premier whether the Government will give effect to a decision of the late Government that the Agent-General of the colony should not be a director of the New Zealand Agricultural Company. Mr Hall replied that the Agent-General had been requested to rolire from the company. The reply received from Sir J. Yogel was that having been a promoter it would be unfair to the shareholders of the company for him to at once discontinue his cooperation. The Government quite agreed with the inexpediency of the Agent - General's continued connection with the concern, at the same time admitted it was only reasonable that some time should be allowed him to sever the connection, and that opinion had been communicated to Sir J. Yogel.

Hon. Mr Gishorne asked whether the Government will introduce this session a a bill as requested by the Senate of the University of New Zealand with the object of securing for the purpose of higher education in the provincial district of Wellipgton 4000 acres as required by " The University Keserves Act, 1875."

Mr Rolleaton said steps had been taken to secure the 4000 acres to the University for purposes of higher education.

LOSS OF BKVHNU.G. Mr Pyko asked if tho Government will state to this House the amount of loss to the revenue resulting from the reduction of tea and sugar duties during the period of nine aiontha, extending from tho Ist of January to the 30th September, 1870. Mr Hall replied that the deficiency on tea during tho last nine mouths was £24.000, nnd in sugar £6100, making a total of £85,000. BAILWAY TABIFF. The Hon. Mr Richardson asked whether the Government intend to make any alteration in the railway tariff this session, and if so, when such alteration will come into operation. Mr Oliver replied that a conference of railway commissioners took place last month, and their suggestions were under consideration.

new bills. ' The following bills were introduced and read a first time:—Reduction of Prici; Charged for Miners' Eights, (Pjke) aud Land Claims' Arbitration (Wakefield).

, QUALIFICATION OF F.LKCTOBB BILL. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Qualification of Electors Bill. In dealing with its (provisions he faid that what was aimed at was that every man having a freehold property whether incumber* d or not should have the franchise as well as every resident. The Maoris were to be provided for by a separate measure.

Sir George Grey said that the bill so far as Che language was concerned was singularly involved. It was a bill which increased the power of property in the colony. Every freeholder with a property qualification amounting to £25 was provided with a vote. In that case any one man might have this qualification in virtue of property in at least twenty districts. In Committee he would do his best to Ret that clause knocked out by the Constitution Act. The JMative population is exactly the same as that of the European, and this Bill takes away that right from the Natives. He felt confident that winterer was the strength of the Government, they wonld not be able to carry the Bill in its present form. He would insist upon Manhood Suffrage, and equal electoral rights for the aboriginals. He was quite sure this was not what the country expected, and would do his best to endeavored to get it thrown out.

Col. Trimble pointfd out that this was only one of a series of Bills which would hare to be considered together. In one of the other series provision was made for the Returning Officer puttingtthe question to the elector, " Hare you voted for this election already P " and if the answer is not satisfactory, then the vote might be rejected. Mr Wakefield said that the Bill was neither involved nor complicated. He reminded the member for the Thames that last year, when he moved iv the direction be now insists upon, he (Sir 6. Grey) resisted such effort. He then stated that it was a mistake to think be objected to the property qualification. It was simply cant and humbug for the member tor Thames to take up the position he does. He defended the £25 qualification, and maintained that it Would add very largely to the Electoral 8011. He charged Sir George Grey with being the apostle of a sham liberalism, and contendedj that the Government now in power had , already given evidence of work. •

Mr Moss maintained that the objections stated by Sir George Grey were of great importance, and struck at the key-note of the whole measure.

Captain Russell thought the Natives should be on the same footing as Europeans. On the other hand they should have equal responsibilities. Tawbai repudiated an assertion made, by permission of the speakers, to the effect that the Maori members in the House were solely under the influence of the Native Minister and the interpreters. Had they been open to be swayed by such influence they would have been on the side of the Government all along.

Mr Gisborne said that under this bill they were asked to disfranchise natives without having any knowledge as to what franchise was to be provided for them. He contended that special representation was necessary, but that representation should be arranged so that it would be gradually superseded, so that the representation of tbe two races might become the same. The bill before the Houm was defective in that respect, and while he would not oppose the second reading in Committee he hoped to see it modified in the respect indicated. Mr Header Wood said they were the representatives of the people and not the representatives of property. It was the people then and not property which should have a voice their elections—property qualification in the Bill was simply a mode for buying votes. It enabled large holders to cut up their property and control a corresponding number of votes. That provision he thought might very properly be struck out. The residental clause was also objectionable : there was no interpretation of the clause to show what residence meant. Suppose that the rolls were made up at the end of the year; in that case it would be impossible for any one of them to go home and say they had resided in the district for the-previous 12- months. He would be in favor of doing away with tho property qualification altogether, and have something more explicit regarding the residental clause.