HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1113, 12 August 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday. Clause 6 of the Appropriation Act, 15 79 was expunged. The Bill was read a third time and passed. MAORI PRISONERS* TRIAL ACT. The Standing Orders were suspended and leave granted to introduce the Maori Prisoners' Trial Act, 1879, and the Peace Preservation Act, which were passed through all their stages. On the motion for the second reading-, Mr Eolleston said that the Government took the sole responsibility of thia Bill. They had, practioally speaking, closed the mouth of the House on the subject by the action taken for a dissolution. They had for some time past been establishing a ' system of personal government, instead of 1 that of Constitutioncil law, in native affairs. They were not now in a position to discuss the question, and, in fact, nothing was left them but to swallow the measure whether they liked it or not; Sir W. Fox concurred in these statements. Mr Saunders said he believed they would all concur in the opinion that the men now in custody should be treated with evory possible indulgence which the circumstances of their case would admit of. Mr Tainui said it was the feeling of the natives outside that the triai should be brought on as soon as possible to see whether the natives were in the wrong or not. He was glad the Government had taken measures to preserve the peace. Mr Macfarlane remarked that the position of native matters was the'flresidt of a breach of faith on the part of this and previous Governments.

M>: Swanson charged the Opposition with having been instrumental iu forcing these bills upon the House. The effect would be that the prophecy of Te Whiti Avould bu fulfilled. The natives would eventually be released, and the consequence would be that Te Wluti's influence would be strengthened in the estimation of the disaffected natives. Mr Bo won repudiated the assertion that the Opposition were responsible for these bills* Mr Barton intimated that his feelings on the subject wore so strong that he would wash his hands of the matter altogether, and declined voting on the bills. Mr Stewart said that the effect of the bills was practically u suspension of the habeas corpus. He would be disposed to run very considerable' risks rather than assent to these measures. They proposed to violate a broad Constitutional principle, and were calculated to inflict gross injustice on the native race. To his mind the action of the Maoris amounted to simple trespass, in asserting what they conceived to be a personal right. He, therefore, felt called upon to resist the measures to the best of his ability. Major Atkinson said all the objections taken to the bills had been merely theoretical. The cry that the proceeding was not Constitutional ought to be refuted, and the question to be considered was, were the measures necessary. The setters required protection from the natives, and natives en the other hand required protection from their own infatuation. He for one was prepared to accept responsibility for the measures. He was quite prepared to contend that, in the present state of native affairs, exceptional legislation was necessary for preserving the peace of the district. It was true that the powers proposed to be given to the Government were great; on the other hand, their responsibilities became great in proportion. Referring to the state of native feeling, he said he quite believed Te Whiti imagined himself possessed .of Divine power. Then there were two classes of Europeans— rone who inclined to believe the natives were right, and the other who wanted to make use of them in order to secure their lands. The natives, when brought up before the Conrt, said that they had got the land from Te Whiti, and that the European settler had got it from the Governor, consequently the dispute was between the Governor and Te Whiti. That shewed that the origin of the dispute was not occasioned by unfulfilled promises made by previous Governments, but the feeling of a natural right on their part. The difficulty had been occasioned by interested parties, who desired to get the lands and sell them to Europeans. It properly worked, it apappeared to him the bills would give* the Government sufficient, but not too much power to cope with the difficulty. Captain Russell said : The circumstances were such as to justify them in putting aside technicalities, and proceed on the principle that the public protection was the supreme law. Mr Tomoana said it would be sufficient to go into this matter when the new Parliament met. He looked upon the bill as a most unfair one. The natives had been already imprisoned, and what need was there for a special measure. The course was to let the natives be tried in the usual way, and not bother about any Bill. He was greatly grieved about the Bill. The people in prison belonged to his race ; if they were found wrong, they were prepared to submit. If the prisoners got back to their lands to-morrow they would commit no violence. Te Whiti was willing to have the matter tried. What he objected to was that the trial should take place here. I In reply, the Native Minister said that the object of the Bills was not only to deal with the Maori prisoners, but likewise to enable the Government to stamp out any disturbance that might arise. TIIE APPROPRIATION BILL. A message was received from the Upper House intimating that the Appropriation Bill was passed. The House then adjourned. THE MAORI BILLS. On resuming, the Speaker announced a message from the Upper House. The Maori Prisoners' Trial Bill had passed with amendments. THE ADJOURNMENT. On resuming at 7.30 p.m. the Plouse, without any business being transacted, adjourned till noon on Monday, when the prorogation will take place.