PARLIAMENTARY. Wellington, Friday evening.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 508, 21 August 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY . Wellington, Friday evening.

Iv the House, Mr iteoves spoke in opposition to the Government. He said tha measures were caused by the attempt made under cover of the State .Forests Bill to sieze valuable lands. He condemned the action of the Government as hasty and illconsidered measures, the out-come of dire financial extremity, and an ill-concealed design on the precious Land F uud of the Middle Island. Ho condemned the proposed Appointment of Provincial officers, as g^ing" the Ministry such power that it would be impossible to obtain justice in the Assembly. He maintained that the financial provisions could not be carried out, and that the effect of the Bills would be to flood the Hou^e with paris.li business, lengthening the session to nine months, and creating a class of professional politicians. He would support the Second Heading, but would oppose its final passing. Mr Stafford spoke for an. hour. He denied having had any hand in framing the measure, defended the Ministry, and condemed ihv George Grey for stamping on the young- men of the House. He depiecated the constant harping on trifle in the Bills, and the di-uugemoiH spirit displayed iv relation to capitation. When the capitation \\a-> changed many l'rowncial charges were taken over. When he spokeofrevoluuoM,hedidnotuse the word in the sense implied by the Auckland *v3i,.u\" He did not desire to imbue hi.-> hands in any man's blood. He meant a peaeetul revolution, as of the Corn Laws and Catholic Emancipation. He referred to the struggles of the colony tor National uuity, aud the fruits of the lack of it in Greece and France. He condemned Provincial Governments, aud said {Superintendents were not specially repiesentativea of the people. They only represented ova vote, iv their own i.!)xecuti\L-i. lie maintained that it was quite competent for the Assembly to alter ouy part of the Constitution, aud adduced instances of what had been done in other countries. He ridiculed the idea that the liberties of die people were bound up in petty Parliaments, whose functions! were confined to the imposition of Do^ taxes and similar matters. Ite would tjll the people that if they desired to bail 1 up a palladium of liberty they «,h ,uld nut be detracted by little ehani Parli uucnts, but turn their indhiJudl attention to the Supreme Legislature- Thpy should make that the guardian of their libeities. Ml 1 titt.Tvd ,vas loudly applauded. Mr J, V- luiv ijiij in opposition.