Evening Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3392, 5 November 1879, Page 2

Evening Sitting.

The House reassembled at 7.30. "**"""* HAOBI BEFBESBNTATIOif BILt. Mr Kelly resumed the debate; on the second reading of the Maori Represents* tion Bill. - He thought certain Oftftdifica* tions were needed to git* furtker opportunity of considering the meaiare. He moved/the adjournment of the debate. ../•"' ; r

Mr George said the effect of the Bill would be to give Maories nine representatives. Maories who could not write would not be able to get their names on the roll, as the Bill provided that to get on the roll, they must make application in writing; then again, unless they satisfied the registration officer that they were 21 yeara of age, they were not eligible to hare their names placed on the roll. "

Te Wheoro said that no officer going amongst natives in his district, no matter whether he was European or Maori, would get natives to consent to their names being placed on the roll. The Maories were a naturallj suspicions minded people, and any change of the kind was received by them with distrust. Only one representative would, he felt sure, be returned if the provisions of the bill wa9 brought into operation. Ho objected to the distinction attempted to be made as between natives, and half-castes. The half-castes, whether they lived amongst Maories or Europeans, should be classed as natives. He would not rote for the withdrawal of the bili, but he would vote for its amendment in the direction in* dicated. Te Wheoro said if they w»r» determined to base the Maori franchise on registration then they would be practically speaking disfranchising them. Maoriei had a great repugnance to signing their names to any paper. If the House desired to give them an increase of representation, why did they not give it to them according to existing qualifications. The bill before the House would not hare the desired effect of associating two races together.

Mr Bryce pointed out that the remarks. of the two last speakers went to show that the great objection was the registration of the roll That vent to prove the great difficulty with which the whole qaeition was surrounded. He admitted there war an objection to the bill. He would prefer to hare teen a measure that would gradually taper off and merge into the European system. The Government were quite willing to accept any proposal which might be made in that direction. The proposal for the adjourn* ment of the debate was probably the. shortest way to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the question. Sir George Grey said the Bill proposes great injustice to the Natives. In the early days, the Natives gave great assistance to the Europeans, when the latter were in the minority. That assistance given, was on the distinct understanding that they were to enjoy equal rights and; privileges with of those Europeans. The Bill now before the House had the effect of withholding these equal rights. Nothing could be more disastrous to the population of any country than to encourage legislation tending to separate or make distinctions between races. This Bill had that tendency, and he hoped they would not recognise it. He objected to a similar clause in the Representation Act, and on the same principle he objected to it in the Bill before the House. What he would advise was that the Bill be dropped altogether, and then, in conference with, the Natives, let the Government bring in a measure based on principles similar to those he has advocated. A Bill like the one before them was calculated to bring about disasters and differences between the races, and was bound to be productive of great injury to the whole community. Mr Koileston denied that the Bill proposed to do any wrong. The Government neither pandered to the Maori nor yet did they seek to deprive them of their rights, as had been alleged. He would I be agreeable to the postponement of the measure so as to admit of an amendment such as had been mentioned being nHpt— The Government, he contended, had brought down a wiae and well-considered measure. It might be before its time, still it was a measure which would prevent pakeha Maoris and other designing persons from making use of the Maoris for their own purposes. ' Mr Baliance thought the better plaa had been to give natives a qualification under the Electoral 801 l with special qualification. In a short time the special • qualification could cease, and until that special qualification ceased the Maori would be taught to qualify himself on tfaf Electoral 8011. All these mistakes had arisen from meddling too muck with' the natives. A system exercised with firm- • ness was what is required. He maintained that the best course was for the Government to drop this Bill altogether, and for the present retain the old Iran* chise.

Mr Moss considered the Bill a noil miichevious one, and one which wbtld completely defeat the object of which it professed to aim. It, therefore, should be dropped altogether. Capf. Ituasell thought the present bill should be withdrawn, and that the special representation be retained until the close of the present Parliament. . He would

not agree to increased Maori ropreseutation. Tainai advised that the bill be withdrawn, and circulated in the interior amongst the Maories, so that they might have an opportunity of expressing an opinion before it come on again. Tomoana had some doubts about the provision in the bill providing for registration. Ho was not disposed to raise any very strong objections to the bill, but was afraid that under the registration clause, the Native depression would decrease to one member. He should like to ice a provision for increasing the the Maori members by six, malting in all tea—eight for this Island, and two for the South, the fresh divisions for the electoral districts to be made by tribes. If the clause requiring the registration waß taken out he would vote for the bill.

Messrs Murray and Thomson spoke stating their objections (o the Bill, after which Mr Hall stated the Government would adopt the suggestion as to the adjournment of the debate. The question for the adjournment was then put and carried. TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. The House then went into Committee on »he Triennial Parliaments Bill. Mr Murray moved that the word triennial should be struck out and the word quadrennial substituted. On being put the motion was lost on the voices. The Bill was altered to provide that the present Parliament, unless sooner disshould expire on the 28th February, 1882. A motion in favor of 1883 being lost on a division of 35 to 26. The Bill was then reported as amended, and the House rose.