House of Representatives.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 807, 18 August 1877, Page 2

House of Representatives.

Government Buildings, Wellington, Friday. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. On the House resuming at half-past seven list night. TiieHon Mr WHITAKER called attention, as a matter of privilege, to an art cc m the Oamaru Mail of August 13, which accused Wtutaker and Company of having combined with Mr Brissenden and Mr Moon to swindle the natives out of land. It accused him of having introduced the ■ Native Lands Bill with the object of making iafe certain land transaction comprising 250,000 acres of land or 300 Bquare miles. Mr Whitaker emphatically denied all allegations m the article. He never employed 3riasenden, never had any communication with him on the subject of employment, »nd concluded by moving that the article was a breach, of privilege, Mr WAKEFIELD, m the interest of the Press, pleaded for deliberation. Thej ought not, he thought, to condemn hastily. Mr STOUT deprecated further notice m the matter. The House, he thought, might at once accept Mr Whitaker's denial as sufficient. Attention to news- , paper libel would monopolise the time of the House. Mr J&EES thought if the House affirmed this to be a breach of privilege, it ought tO; go further j other wise it would offer a premium to newspapers to gain notoriety. The New Zealand Times during the last few weeks, inspired by Ministers, had contained scurrilous attacks on membei'3 and obscene expressions, especially regarding Sir Q-eorge U*ey, who took no notice of them, Hereferrea

o Major Green's refusal to an«rer ques* ions when suitmoued hy the Auokland Provincial Gouhoil, acting under instruo" tionsj-from Dr Pollen. Mr FOX supported the motion. He severely condemned the libels on Sir George. Grey m the letter signed J.P.," m the Neio/Zeafand Times, land said such libello.u^f&rtjjslea were only to be explained by Dr \\Fatts' lines-r/ £%; The devil finds some mischiefstill .For idle hands to do. : The Government ought, he said, to strike Mr Williams' name off the list of Justioes. Mr GISBORKTE ...thought 1 it would be well to make an example. "'*■ ' ""'" Mr THOMSON deprecated extreme measures as usually abortwe. The motion was agreed to. Hr'WttlTAKliJß then moved ""-That* the priater and publisher (George Jones, jun) be drdnred to appear at the Bar on that day week." Mr WA ICEFIELD seconded. , Mr SI OUr thought Parliament flight only to assert its privileges against articles interfering with its freedom, and that Mr Wai taker had better institute criminal proceedings. . Mr RE 1 NOLDS strongly condemned the scurrilous articles of the New Zealand Times on Sir Gteorge Grrey, and thought they should oall the , editor and publisher of the Times to the Bar. Mr TRAVELS said that ordinarily apologies m similar oases were made with impertinent insult. . A fine -or impnaoaf ment ought to be inflioted. Mr REE3 defended the Press generally for its moderation. ■ , ■ , ; . The motion was carried. ; NATIVE LANDS 00 QRT BILL. After the privilege question was disposed of, the debate was resumed on the second reading of the Native Lan 1 Court Bill. . Mr TAKIMONI and Mr HORI KARABLA riWITI condemned the Bill. Mr KoWi£ advocated the preparation of a suitable measure durin^ the recess. Mr BRYG& severely criticised the Bill, and sketched out the proviaious of a suitable measure. Withont further discussion, the question was put to the vote. An. amendman for the omission of "the tWOrds "Uuri.ig present session" to be struck, .•ut of the motion, was carried on the. v »icos, m the following form : — " Thac :he Order of the Day be discharged from the Order Paper to enable the- Government to give effeofc to the amendment of the uember for ftaagit.iki (\tr Ballance)." rhis is practically Mr Lusk's amendment. The Government, did .not divide the' douse. The Opposition oheered. AUCKLAND HIGHWAY DISTRICTS VALUAiION BILL. Mr REES, m a motion for the second reading of the Auckland Highway Districts Valuation Bill, said that the Upper House had. introduced ameniments limiting the operations of the Bill to certain districts, which would not fulfil the purposes intended, and moved " That tne House disagrees with the amendments m the Couucil, and appoints Messrs iSheehan and Hamilton to look up reasons." Motion agreed to. INCIDENCE OF TAXATION, The House has been occupied all: the afternoon m discussing. Mr Woolcock's resolution of alteration m the inoidenoe of taxation. On the motion being proposed for going into Committe of Supply, Mr BOWEN spoke at considerable length on the question, and stated that the Government would ba willing to introduoe a bud et next session bused on a new incidence of taxation. He concluded by moving " That m the opiniou of this House the incidence of taxation should be po adjusted as to impose on property a fair share of the burdens entailed ou the colouy by tho expenditure on public works, and thereby afford means for the reduction of taxes on necessaries, aui that tha fiuancial proposals of Govermeut next session shon id embody this view.' The SPEAKER ruled that this was an amendment on amendment, and therefore out of order. The question That the Speaker leave the Chair, was negatived, and Mr Woolcoc >'s resolution then became a subs tan. tive motion. Messrs REYNOLDS and BUNNY spoke m favour of a change m the incidence of taxation. Mr J.RAVER3 m a strong speech supporte 1 Mr GISBORNE said property was already sufficiently taxed by way of rates. Mr BUTTON supported and said private property had benefited lately by the Public Works expenditure, and the public Work's scheme wa3 introduced a property tax should have accompanied it. Mr LUMSDEJS opposed the amend, ment, and Mr Fisher supported i , saving tbe sooner a property and income tax were levied ttie better ; that the diaories had been demoralized by being defrauded of tneir lands, and the people of the North now wanted a land fund. Sir R DOUGiAS said the middle Island really belonged to tbe natives oi the No.tn Island, who conquered, cooked, and ate the owners of chose lauds,; and thus acquired a title to them. ' '■ dir \jr GttEY th-m desired to mive an amendment widen he had tabled, but the Speaker ruled it out of order. Sir U- Grey than moved another amendment to this etfect : " That all words after • that' be ief< out witli a view to inserting ' that the B}Biem of taxation should be immediately altered wun a view to imposing a_ tax up~On income and property, with the view of relieviug the Colony from some duties ou necessaries now imposed." Sir G «irey then delivered an excellent speeoh up to the hour of adjournment.