HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 953, 1 August 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House met at 7.30. Mr Fox gave notice to ask, " Whether Government intended to iutrodnce bills for dealing with the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the suppression of lotteries." BILLS HEAD FIRST TIME. The following- Bills were read a first time : —Bill to amend certain provisions m the Act relating- to the CTvil Service ; bill to amend the Mercantile Law amended Act, 18G0; bill for the management of trades Unions m the colony —ill introduced by Mr Stout. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. The usual sessional committes, with one exception, were appointed; that was for a select committee regarding public petitions, die. Mr Seymour George went through the Address clause by clause, commenting ou each m commendatory terms, and asking the House and the country to re-echo the sentiments embodied iv that Address. The hon. member received applause on rising and ou sitting down. Mr Hobbs seconded the addre<s. Referring to native matters, the hou gentleman said he hoped early opportunity woulil be taken to devise some means to induce the natives to exchange their tribal rights for Crown grants. He paid a high compliment to the Premier and Native Minister for the bold aud successful way m which they met and dealt with native chiefs. He advocated the recognition of the powers of the chiefs of tribes and the Hauliaus m dealing with native lands, so that, if mistakes were made, and the natives were dissatisfied, they would have, at least, their oavh people to blame. Dr Wallis said he would comment on the Address as a candid and plain-spoken friend. Last session he gave the present occupants of the Government benches a loyal support, aud he promised to continue that support so long us they kept on the path they had laid down for

ih •mselve*. Bit ho came 1.0 the conclusion that tln-ir practice di I not squire Avith tho | riucipah t hey professqd aud preached when on tho , opposite side of 'olio Mouse, lie remarked that tin; address was fortunate iv being move! aud seconded, by two such blind believers hi the virtue of the Government} but they evidoutly had not yet cub their eyo-teeth ; they had not discovered Avliat a iran.itV^friittiou getting- into office Botnotimea effected. When the present Government acceded to office last session by certain tactics, friends during tho excitement of struggle oil led ie generalship, though many people outside oulle.-l it artful and awful dodger-}'. When Sir George Grey obtained office last year he chose to- surround himself Avith certain goutlemeu, iv order to outv out tho various reforms he hud promised to introduce, and yet none of these gentlemen kicked iv the aamo paddock. Certainly, some were thorough Radicals, but then others were something very different. [u.leed, he Avas at a loss to account for the Premier selecting such n c miposite Cabinet. What had these goutleraeti been doing during the recess ? They had been told " Oh. if oar party get into otiiee, we shall do better than has beeu done," but what ditl they rind? — they both Avere much alike. There was p great parallel, but "o contrast. Canar and Pompoy were very much alike, especially Pompey. What had become of the departments during the recess? The Education, Justice, and Public Works Departments had been allowed to fall into a most unsatisfactory condition. lustead of re-organising and forming these Departments, Ministers nVv hither and thither, all over the colony, and he made bold to say the people of the colony would be astonished at the cost of those voyagings of pleasure. Undoubtedly, the Hinemoa, which liad been so much b> gradged to their predecessors, had become a Ministerial yacht. Where were the many reforms they had promised ? Did anyone think they were likely to obtain ib m the matter of finance 1 It appeared to him the best first step to secure that would be a general reduction of the salaries ofthe Ministers, but they dare not do that. They made certain professions last year iv that direction, but when the question came on they spoke of it with bated breath, aud if the Government whip used his Avhip at all on that occasion, he must have used it to whip away instead of whipping iv. They promised reduction of taxation, but it was only to reduce it m one directian and increase it m another, it appeared to him that their financial reform really meant increasing the burthen of taxatioD. Yet this is what they considered just and equitable taxation ! As to Manhood Suffrage, which the Premier so eloquently and persisently advocated, what had become of it? By speeches of members of the Cabinet, he found there were to be four different kinds ot taxation, which to him appeared an absurdity. He could not help thinking that the main object was to retain their sea*u He hoped the Premier wou'd return to his early love, aud carry out the promises he once made. Let him settle the Maori difficulty, and introduce Universal Suffrage and representation on the basis of populaturn system, and ho would immortalise hitnsolf. Mr Fox did not rise as an Opposition member but an independent one. It appeared to him that certain clauses of the Speech savoured of what he called misappropriation and want of generosity. He alluded to the remarks which attributed to the Premier and Native Minister the satisfactory position m which native affairs had been brought. There was no allusion to the celebrated man wno had passed uway, and to whom the real credit was due of gradually inducing the good feeling which had been brought about between the two races. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to recount the rapine and murder of Te Kooti, Titokowaru and others, aud other difliculties which surrounded the colony when the late Sir Donald McLeau undertook the delicate and dangerous tsk of pacification. Land that they then could not put a foot on with safety has since been sold for £20 per acre. The Address said that " at last peaceful relations have been established between the Waikato and Ngatimaulapoto tribes " ; but how long was it since they had any disturbance with these tribes P Why, these tribes never Interfered when they were limiting Te Kooti. They might as well be asked for congratulations that Noah's Flood was ended. Altogether, tha whole tone of these remarks ou this point was misleading. It was ignoring the results of efforts of previous Ministries for years. He belie ved he had good cause for sayiug that the recognition of that remnant of the native race m Waikato did more to impede the prospect of our obtaining peaceable oossessiou thau auythiug which had been done for many years. The hou. gentleman referred to the uegofiatious which had taken place between tho Premier and Kewi, but, as to the exact result of the negotiations, who kneAv anything about them ? The public mind was m a great state of obscurity on the matter. It appeared to him that the secrecy which at one time distinguished dealings Avith natives, and of which they thought they had rid themselves for ever, had ouce more been brought into the House. Aftor all, what importacce could be attached to ihese native meetings ? The most influential chiefs Avho have been identified with the uutive troubles m the past Avere not present. Manuhiri was not present, nor Tawhaiao. nor To Whiti, nor even William King, the cause of all these troubles iv tho past. What Il«wi said 18 vpars ago he asked at the Waitara, When asked by the Premier Avhat he wanted, Ke<ri said, " I want Wairara back." This so abounded the Preguoy that Jie ad-

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