PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4267, 4 September 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES* WeliLlnoton, This dayThe House met at 11 o'clock. Co). Trimble brought up the Report of Native Affairs Committee on the petition of Taiaroa, and, on the motion that it lie on the table, Mr Taiaroa moved—"That.,it be not received." He alleged that it was not considered by Committee, and that it was decided on parliamentary grounds. Mr Bryce defended the Committee from j the imputation, and warned the natives • that these taunts and imputations | would not be tolerated even from natives. { The report was agreed to on a majority of j 7 to 6, four of the former being members of the native race, and that was what transpired on a previous occasion. Since then the report had been recommitted at the instigation of the petitioners. Further , evidence was taken and the report now brought up was the almost unanimous finding of the committee. What-he pro* tested against was gross mputations made by native members when matters did not suit their views. If such conduct was persisted in, the Native Affairs Committee would have to be abolished altogether. Major Te Wheoro said he was quite sure that no good had ever been derived by natives from this committee and no great harm would be done if it were done away with. As Maori members they only considered Maori claims that were just. He supported the amendment that the report be not received. Mr Sheeban, without defending the objectionable statement made, contended that the imputation was not stronger than has often been made by European members. The Maori members bad been charged with being a combination on behalf of Maori people, he asked if they were the only combination in that House ? They had West Coast combinations, province combinations, and all sorts of combinations. With regard to the claim he reminded them that all sorts of promises had been made in connection with this matter. In the other House it was found that this claim had not been satisfied. This was a State question, and they should have taken every possible evidenca on the subject, which had not been done. He regarded this merely as a protest withouf imputing unspoken motives to anyone. Mr Daniel said that the South Island natives had not been fairly dealt with and regretted the position taken up by the Native Minister. The fact was that all that was given to the natives for the vast county of Southland would not amount to the sum of a farthing for 500 acres. Mr Tawhaia spoke in support of the amendment. The debate was inter: upted by Mr Macandrew, who drew attention to the fact that a Select Committee was sitting without the authority of the House. ... Major Atkinson moved that authority be now given. .Sir J. Hall pointed out that the motion under circumstances might operats most unfairly. Members may have to remain away from their' Committees, knowing they had not authority, and that in their absence important business might be transacted.—The House divided: Ayes» 24; noes, 40. The motion was lost, and \ orders given that any Committee sitting that day be girea.to understand that they had no autfiomy, and that business transacted woulpl be invalid. The debate on the report on Mr Taiaroa's petition _w*s resumed. Mr J. B. Whyte suggested that the Committee be remodelled by excluding members of tb# native race from sitting on ihat Committee. ' Mr Tomoana^ considered the, great mistake was doiflk away with the South Commission appofsted to deal with these claims. *^ Mr Turnbull defended the proceedings of the Committee, adding .that if the petition again came before the Committee, the report would be much less' favorable to the claimants than it now was. Motion put—Ayes, 46; noes, 16. On the motion of Mr Johnston, the Tauranga East Coast and Hot I akes District Railway >0&t (Limited^ Empowering Sill was introduced and read a first time. Major Atkinson moved the consideration of the rejMKt of the Select Committee on Brodgem claims, and the House adjourned at 1 o'clock.