PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2510, 11 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [by telegraph—nurse association,! FRIDAY. This Legislative Council met at 2.30. Hon. Mr Waterhouse moved that an address be presented to the Government, asking them to introduce a Bill providing that no Bills disposing of the lands of the Crown shall be introduced by private members. The Attorney-General objected to the motion, asking Mr Waterhouae to withdraw it. After debate the motion was agreed to on the voices, A number of Bills were advanced several staeoK. The Local Courts Proceeding Bill and Otago Harbour Board Indemnity and Land Vesting Bills were passed The Council rose at 5 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY. After the "galleries were cleared to-day, Taiwhanga went on speaking till past one o'clock, but eventually withdrew his motion made early in the afternoon, "That the chairman leave the chair." The motion to report progress was negatived and the point of order was raised. Taiwhanga. resumed his seat during the discussion, and not rising again quickly, Clause 3 was carried on the voices befnre he appeared to grasp the situation. This was at 1.30., and immediately afterwards, on the motion of Mr Merchant, the galleries were re-opened. On Clause 4, giving power to natives to alienate their lands in the same way as Europeans, Sir (}. Grey moved an amendment restricting purchases by any one European to £2500 worth, Taipua spoke at great length ngainst th« Bill, and then Taiwhanga resumed, the principal portion of his remarks being devoted to tho reading of the Treaty of Waitangi, with comments of various writers therein. At 10 this morning, Clnme 4 and Sir G. Grey's amendment were still under discussion. Mr Taylor spoke for some lime on the side of the Maori members amidst frequent interruptions. Mr Reeves (Inungihiia) also spoke for about an hour professing himself always rnnrtv '" help the weak ngainst the strong. After that Taiwhanga resumed his quotations and urged the Government to postpone the Bills until they could be considered by a great meeting of chiefs in March next at the Buy of Islands. At 8.15, Taipua moved an adjournment for breakfast, and Mr Seymour, who was then in the chair, said he would vacate it till 9.15, and left the chair. The Colonial Secretary at once moved that Mr Cowan take the chair, but opposition was raised and a division demanded. Eventually the Speaker had to be sent for to decide whether the proceedings were in order. He ruled that tho division must bo allowed, and by 21 to 7, Mr Cowan was voted to the chair. Mr Taylor spoke again, and had to apologise to Mr Verrall for saying the member for Ashley seemed to be a shinglo or two short. Mr Carroll followed, addressing himself to the natives in the gallery to defend the action of himself and Parliament. He supported the Bill because there was a general demand for the repeal of the Native Land Administration Act. Taiwhanga said if he had made any charges against Mr Carroll he would withdraw them, but ho wished legislation to be deferred till next session and would fight the matter to the bitter end. At 1 o'clock he moved an adjournment for an hour. Lost by 34 to 4. Mr Taipua then came to his assistance again. Mr Reeves (Inangahua) suggested at 2 p.m. that the adjournment of an hour should be- taken for refreshments, but the Premier refused, saying that although he would not oppose any reasonable amendment he should go right through with the Bill without an adjournment. Mr Carroll expressed his disapproval of Taiwhanga's action in stonewalling, and said he was not expressing wish of the natives in I his opposition to the Bill. Mr Taipua then spoke till about three o'clock against the Bill and Taiwhanga till 5 p.m. Mr Pratt disagreed with the stonewalling tactics of his Maori colleagues and said ho could not oppose tho Bill as his people were all in favour of the repeal of the Native Land Administration Act. Taipua again rose and spoke for an hour and Mr Reeves (Inangahua) kept the debate going till the 5.30 adjournment. The Committee continued at 7.30. Mr Seddon stated he had been informed that Major Kemp and a chief from Wairarapa wished to be heard at the bar of tha House, and thought it would be to the benefit of all, if their views on so radical a change in the native policy could be heard. Sir H. Atkinson said he would be glad to hear any proposal Mr Taiwhanga had to make.—Mr Taiwhanga said he would with- 1 draw opposition to clause 4. if the Premier would agree to the chiefs appearing at the bar of the House.—Mr Taipua also said' he wished to bring the discussion to an end, and supported Mr Taiwhanga's propoeal.—The Premier said if he understood all obstructien was to be withdrawn, and merely a reasonable debate allowed on all the Native Bills, he would agree ii hearing the chiefs at the bar of the House as soon as clause 4 was passed. —Sit , G. Grey and Mr Seddon objected to passing the clause first. —Sir G. Grey warned the native members that they would get no advantage at all by allowing the clause to pass before the chiefs were heard.—Mr Carroll thought clause 4 must be passed before anyone was admitted to the bar of the House, —Sir G. Grey strongly opposed the clause.—Considerable dißcuesion followed, Mr Seddon taking up cudgels on behalf of Sir G. Grey, whom Mr Carroll accused of insincerity.—Col. Fraser stated that unless some restriction, was placed in the way of native land being sold in large blocks he should join the stonewallers.—Mr Hutchinson pointed out Clause 4 was practically the only clause left in the Bill. To pass that first would be to pas 3 the whole Bill. —Sir G. Grey informed the House that the two chiefs had just told him they would not appear at the bar of the House unless they could speak before clause 4 was passed, and denied the charge of insincerity.—The Colonial Secretary deprecated the interference of any hon. member who had shown perfect ignorance of the scope of the Bill.—Mr Reeves (St. Albans) thought the Government were responsible for the stonewalliug.— Mr Fitchett moved to report progress to enable chiefs to be heard at the bar.—The Premier would consent if Clause 4 tfhs passed. The motion was negatiuK on the voices. After some further opposition from Sir G. Grey Clause 4 was passed by 53 to 10 and progress was then reported, and the Premier moved that Major Kemp and Piripi be allowed to appear at the bar which was agreed to The chiefs were accordingly admitted, and Kemp said he appeared to ask for a delay. He proceeded to give this objections to the Bills before the House. Piripi said the chiefs now in Wellington wished for delay, as expressed in the petition to the Speaker.—The chiefs having withdrawn, consideration of the Native Land Bill in committee was resumed. (Left sitting.)