PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 27 May 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

■ (Tr- t .. ramsD press association.' ■'■- 1 FRIDAY. \'?Mf* In the House today Wynj'p|H|is brought up the report of the Select Com-

mittee on the Corrupt Practices Act. Jt was to the effect that clauses 17 and IS were too severe, and should bo amended by giving judges discretionary power to inflict all or any of the penalties instead of their being obliged to inflict the; v/holo penalties even in cases of merely technical offences, The House agreed to the report, and resolved that Legislation be introduced to givo effect to it.

In reply to questions, from several members, Ministers stated that they did not intend to amend the Employment of Females Act by substituting any other day for the Saturday half holiday. The 7 would not amend the Waste Lands Act by making Land Boards elective, If possible they would introduce a bill to restore leasehold franchise. Thoy did not intend to amend Gaming and Lotteries Act, They would as soon as possible give effect to 8 hours system for railway employees,

Seven new bills were introduced.

The election of the Chairman of Committees was postponed to Tuesday, and notice given of an Imprest Supply Bill ou that day.

At the evening sitting Bryce moved the second readinjj of the West Coast Peace i"reservation Bill, inviting the' House to fully discuss the Native policy of the Government on this Bill, It was one necessary for the public good, while the Companion Indemnity Bill, was ono mainly affecting himself, and he was very indifferent about, it, To justify the proposals of the Bill in regard to Te Whiti and Tohu, He entered into an ex haustive review of the history ot native affairs on the Weat Coast for the hist lj years, pointing out the belief of the natives in the miraculous powers of To Whiti, ami bearingfull testimony toTe Whiti'sdesire for peace, but expressing a decided opinion that the Parihaka meetings had become dangerous to the peace of the country, and that To Whiti would not havo been able much lo 'gor to have controlled and restrained Ins followers, The natives were growing do. fiant. and Te Whiti's demands too unlimited, He defended his action at Parihaka, and in regard to the destruction of crops, said only potatoes which had been sown on 40 acres of land wli.ch had been sold to Europeans were destroyed. He warmly complimentod the Volunteers who went to the front, concluding by throwing on the House responsibility of rejecting tlio Bill. It would be unsafe to allow Te Wldti and Tohu to return. He would rather sacrifice his life than admit that any ..ctiou he had taken needed an apology.

Sir Gbosm Grkv regretted any pari) questions should arise on a bill which was really onu of attainder against two chiefs. It was not possible for any one to fairly judj.e the Native Minister's conduct in every little detail of what had passed. A great crisis had been faced-a heavy responsibility, the issue between peace and ,war had been thrown on him, and he had so'ved the diliiculty without bloodshed, without cruelly, and withont doing anything which could

reflect on the credit of tho colony. -Ho deserved all credit and complete' indemnity, had he himself remained in office he would have done what Mr Bryce had done, but perhaps not have done it so woll. There was uo doubt To Whiti had become dangerous to the peace of the colony, and it would still be dangerous to allow him to return. There was nothing unjust in tho Legislature doing this under the circumstances, but tho House should not act as judge and jury and declaro Te Whiti guilty of crimes which bad not Improved,' The preamble should bo „ struck out and the bill simply provide for the detention as long as was necessary of tho two chiefs,

Mr Bbacken rather ridiculed the Parihaka affair, and protested most strongly against any British subjects being deprived of the right of trial by jury as proposed in this bill.

Mr HuromsoN condemned the wholo native policy of the Government and Brycu's action at Parihaka. Ho declared To Whili was being persecuted for his religious belief, and protested strongly against his being kept in custody without trial. After the usual adjournment Mr 1)e Lautouk entered at considerable length inio the history of the Weil Coast confiscation, contending that the nativeß had been unjustly treated and the confiscation practically abandoned. That Mood had not been shed ' was due to the forbearanee of the natives, not to ours. TeWhiti had, he contended, * always been willing to meet us reasonably. This Bill proposed to do an injustice to two men in order to avert some fancied danger. He did not agr«o with this, bnt said let u| do irhat is right, not do wrong and shut our s^-: eyes to the fact that it is wrong. M,?'

Mr Bathoate protested most' strongly against the Bill as contrary to every principle of kw and justice,

Mr Tawhai thought Te Wliiti to unfairly and exceptionally treated because he was a Maori. If he' had done wrong he should bo .tried. MrSHEBHAK moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose at 12,5

The gambling hell of Monte Carlo, in the principality of Tuscany, is apparently reserved oxcluaively for tho purpose of fleecing foreigners. A notice in the American Eegiater, published at Nice, reads as follows:-" In conformity with a rule of the Oercles des Estranges do Monte Carlo, admittance to tho saloons is only Riven to persons furnished with tickf*: Admittance to the gaming rooms is forbidden to the inhabitants of the principality.; it is equally forbidden to the inhabitants of the Department of thb'MnnAlps, with the exception of rnoinbers of the prinoipal clubs.. Tickets of a'durijEioru ■we diliraad at the; Beoretwiat.of.rtne" OriiiiV 1