HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume I, Issue 13, 17 August 1861, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[We publish the conclusion of the recent debate on Mr" Fox's motion, which ended in the resignation of the late ministers. ] Mr. Crackoft Wilson said that he had had 30 years experience in governing Asiatics, and therefore claimed a right to express his opinion on this subject. He had on four occasions received the thanks of the Hon. East India Company for his services in the cause of humanity, and his intrepidity in preventing conflicts of races and loss of life. Honors had been conferred upon him by Her Majesty for his public services during the Indian mutiny. The GovernorGeneral of India had stated in a despatch that he had saved the lives of more Christian natives than any other man in the country at that crisis. He stated those facts to prove that he was not devoid of feelings of humanity, nor unacquainted with the horrors of war. In advising the House unanimously to support the Government he was aware of the responsibility attaching to that advice. He thought that the relation between men of Asiatic and European origin when brought into contact was one of conflict: Lord William Bentinck's policy in India of living on sufferance with the army of Bengal, and not punishing their mutinous spirit when developed, had brought on the outbreak there. The same policy had been adopted here in this country: the Maori had been pampered by the authorities into an erroneous belief of his power, and when intriguing Europeans and lying Asiatics met, as was the case in the Northern Island there must be an outbreak. He warned the Maoris that the white man was not at his mercy. He told them that for every hair of a settler's head that fell a hundred arms would exact a bloody recompense. Let them pause before they exasperated the British soldiery, for if once exasperated they would blot out their existence as a nation. He could assure the House that the Asiatic soldiers of the line were as fine a body of men as any equal number of Maoris that could be mustered, but they were as nothing compared with the British soldiers. The fact was that he (Mr. Wilson) pledged his word that if the Government placed three regiment of Ghoorkas at his disposal, he Avould cut his way through the country from Auckland to Cook's Straits, or leave his bones to whiten on the earth. The natives ought not to be misled in this matter. He appealed to the House to support the Government and thus discourage the rebellious spirit of the natives. Let them seek another occasion on which to try the petty question of provincialism, but on this let them be true to their country and Queen and to the Anglo-Saxon race. He had a stake in Auckland as well as other hon. gentlemen, and if their hearths were invaded by lire and the sword, he could assure them that his own heard would not remain untouched. He trusted the House would be unanimous in supporting the Ministry.

Mr. Recall blamed the Government for advising the war, he did not however think that they had originally intended to go to war, the Avar was the result of n blunder; this shewed how unfit the Government were in conducting the affairs of a country, he could not repose confidence in a ministry that h;id displayed so little ability. He then referred to the undefended portion of the out-settlers of Wellington, he trembled for them when he heard the Governor state that he could neither defend them, nor arm them in their own defence. On the motion of Mr. Eraser the debate was adjourned. Thursday, July -lth. Mr. Fraser opened the adjourned debate. ITe said that he had heard nothing in the speech of the hon. member for Rangitikei (Mr. Fox) to induce him to vote against ministers, he should therefore oppose the motion. Mr. Dick censured the Government for their conduct towards the Otago Volunteer Rifles, and also for the course they hadpursued on the separation of the New Province of Southland from Otago. lie then adverted to the Coleman Contracts and Customs Tariff, and concluded by supporting the motion of Mr. Fox.

Mr. Domett said, that as both the war and general policy of Mr. Fox was substantially that of the present government, the question resolved itself into one of persons. The Ministry was charged with making this a settler's war, but the Colonial Secretary explained that the Ministry did all they could to set the matter right before the Home Government. 1 le. from the beginning believed it to be an Imperial war, but ni its object it was highly important to the colonists; the rights of the settlers'should no more be sacrificed to the Maoris. lie defended the Government against tae charge of not warning the settlers before going to and also tbeir conduct in withdrawing Mr. Ronton from Waikato. He thought that the Colony be regarded with feelings of disgust by the authorities in" England if after the Imperial Government and the majority of the House of Commons bad with tbe' Government, they turned out the -ministry who had advocated the cause of the settlers, ''J might lead even to the withdrawal of the troops from the Colony. Mr. Carleton supported the motion. The Gov- 1 eminent had cut the ground from beneath his feet on j

which he could have supported them. lie was to Id they were ready to abandon the New Provinces Act, and the Native Polioy of ISSS; on both the so measures he should have supported them. Both t_ie Governor and the Government had lost the confidence of the natives and he thought Mr. Fox would be ab»le to make much better terms than the hon. member ait the head of the Government. He censured tlio Government for removing the sent of war fro»m Taranaki, as it would make the war general. He thought the King flag should be pulled down, bmt he did not think that negotiation was at an end, biit as the Ministry had lost the confidence of the natives he thought that they ought not to be entrusted wi th these negotiations, should however the war be resumed he should vote for the hearty prosecution of it. Mr. Dillon Bell in reply to Mr. Carleton said that the Governor could not continue the war at Taranaki. because some of the natives sued for peace, and the Waikatos had withdrawn to their own country. Mr. Jollte said that he was disappointed in _■■>. Fox's speech. That hon. gentleman had arraign«cd the Ministry almost solely on the war. A few years ago he (Mr. Fox) had taken a stand directly opposite to that which he now occupied ; but now he h-d changed sides, and identified himself with that am sill knot of politicians—some clerical, some judicial—wlio had allied themselves with men imbued with a _rchellions spirit. He did not advocate negotiation, l>nt if the Maoris could be rescued from incipient rebellion he would make sacrifices for such a result. A change of ministry at this crisis would retard a settlement of the difficulty. Mr. Reader, Wood supported the hon. membw for Rangitikei. The Ministry had concluded a premature and unsatisfactory peace. Mr. Cahter supported the motion. The Government ought to have put down the King move. meut before the Waitara question arose. If the natives after three months' negotiation refused to pull down their flag it was for British valour to do so, The Government ought to have laid before tho House the expenses of the war; which he calculated wouild amount to £1,800,000 in tho first year. He did not want a AVellington Ministry but a New Zeala-iitl Ministry which should govern the country impartially. After a short adjournment the Native Minister Messrs. Firth, J. C, Richmond, Curtis, and Col Nixon addressed the House on the Ministerial side and Messrs. R. Graham, O'Rouke and Sanders dfoi the opposition. The debate w r as then adjourned. Friday, July sth, 1861. The Speaker took the chair at 12 o'clock.

The hon. Mr. Stafford obtained leave to bring ii a Bill to prevent the importation of diseased cattle The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be real a second time on Thursday next. The House then proceeded to the Orders of the Day and the adjourned debate on the want of confident was re-opened by Mr. Mason who, declared his in ten tion of voting with Ministers. Mr. Richmond did not consider himself calLcil upon to answer every remark which had fallen from hon. members —some were of too puerile a naturre The real issue at point was one of men not of men sures —it was relatively as to their opponents th_cj were to be judged; it was not to be expected thai even the British Senate could furnish men perfecilj fitted to all occasions, although in England he v»iii proud to say it was not thought that the presen Ministry had disgraced the Colony of New Zealand Mr. Richmond concluded his speech by expressijij the gratification which himself and colleagues woiali feel on resigning the ardous duties of office.

Mr. Fox having replied in a short speech, tin House divided for the motion 24 —Against it 23Majority for the motion 1.