PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 11 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION, ■ ' •' J ' LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Council yesterday tho Hon 0. J. Pharazyn moved another resolution in favor of abolishing the honorariums after the close of the present Parliament. The motion was lost, after a personal-debate, by 24 to 4. The School Committees Election Bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House the Hon Major Atkinson, in moving that the House at its rising adjourn to Monday afternoon for Government business, said the. Estimates would then be steadily gone on with, and, if members liked, all necessary business could be concluded by the end of the present month. Replying to; questions, -Ministers said they would try and remedy any needless dqlay in tbe land transfer system. Could not remove tho duty on sugar to prolnete the jam and fruit industry. Tfcfe Settled Land Bill introduced by Mr Connolly was the Alienation of lasnd Bill under a new name. It w$ sot intended to appoint a royal comji>tat3{>ii to investigate the allegations nraffe against the New Zealand N«ti*b Land Company, as several- libel &Bions on the subject were pending. The Hon Major ATKiNsoNniovedthat Mr Hurat be discharged from the Dargaville oommittoi), and Mr Mason be substituted.

Aiong discussion ensued, in which j Mr Seddon .oxpvased great dissatisfaction with Mr Steward's conduct as 1 °|)position whip, and Mr Montgomery warmly defended him. Ultimately Mr Dargaville said that as it indicated' from the first by the amendment that he had proposed, he did not intend his words to impart personal dishonor or personal corruption to Ministers, and had his words been capable of such interpretation lie would have withdrawn them, but he did not think they were. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Hursthouse resumed the debate on the Native Lands Act. He held they must either resume the Crown's pre-emptive right or havo free trade. He did not hold the lawyers responsible for land court evils and would not exclude them. More judges were wanted. The Bill would injuriously affect native lands in the South Island leased, for mining. He would support Mr Stevens' clause. Sir G. Grey contrasted the treatment of the Kativo race in regard to their lands in Australia and here, greatly to the credit of ourselves. The present Bill was not a statesmanlike measure; it was not thorough. The Government should either take the sale or settlement into its own hands, so as to secure Natives of a fair price, aud give all buyers an equal chance of competing, or it should encourage the formation of Companies like the East Coast Land Settlement Compauy to act as agents for the Natives iii pro ■ moting settlement on their lands. The Bill ho had prepared when in office proposed that the Natives should sell only through the Government, and iu small blocks, with conditions of settlement, and after this notice of the land being open for sale that was the direction legislation should take. A great defect in the Bill was that it contained no provision for reservos, which were subject to restrictions. Within the last two years 21,879 acres of "reserves of this land had had the restrictions removed, and been sold privately, aud of these, 13,22:1 aoqes had been secured by the Premier's family and friends. These lands ajjduld be thrown open after due notice ao that all could compete, He wittered to bring in a bill to annul ths& grants, and have the parties who Wj improperly secured them to seek dbmpensation of ; thoirsuffered inja^ 1 Mr 1e \VufcoiiO supported the principle of the Bill, but .would, in committee, try to render it more stringent. Mr Smitii urged the resumption of pre-emptive right, Under a proper system they would not be much money wanted to give this effect.-

Mr ToMom thought tho Maoris should be allowed to deal as they pleased with thtir own lands, subject only to slight Government control. He would support the Bill. Mr Hobbs thought the penalties should be rendered more stringent. He would support tho clause saving pending transactions.

Mr MoNKosftßY supported the Bill as a step in tho right direction, although not going fav enough. He urged Mr Bryce to abandon it in committee, and re-introduce his excellent Bill of 1880, which he believed the House would now pass.

Mr Kelly thought the Bill was only.a half. measure, and urged the. alterations in direction of the notice of motion in his name oil the order paper. Mr Fish supported the .Bill, as an honest one, but not going far enough. Certain amendijwnts were required in Committee.

Mr J. Buchanan defended the East Coast Land Settlement Company, and Mr DeLautouk, from the charges made against thorn, and into whiclihe courted tho fullest inquiry, lie would support the Bill generally, but not the exclusion of lawyers, Mr lurnbuHj supported tho return to right of preemptive preemption, Mr Siieehah intimated his intention of speaking length in opposition to ithfl Bill, on the motion for its committal.

•/l he Hou, Mr Bryce replied at con.siijcrable length, he ijot agree, ito any clause; 'jyjfiiehwjould validate or protecjt completed The Bill was read a second time, and tho House rose •at 1 1$5. i : ' : i>. j ti-,