HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3163, 18 August 1881, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE TELEGRAPHISTS' STRIKE. Mr Hutchison presented a petition from A. J. Renner, telegraphist, praying for compensation for loss occasioned by the action of the Government in forwarding his name to New South Wales in connection with the recent strike. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that a survey would be made to decide upon the most favorable route for the extension of the Mount Soniers line to the coal measures on the Stour, preparatory to the execution of the work by a private company under the Railways Construction Act; Ministers did not intend waiving the rights under the bonds entered into for reimbursing the Telegraph Department any deficiency occasioned through the opening of telegraph offices in certain districts, but the opinion of law officers was being taken as to whether the bonds could be enforced after the change of tariff; the final report of the Judicature Commission would not be ready until November, and could not possibly be considered this session. REPRESENTATION BILL On the motion for going into committee on the Representation Bill, Mr Wood moved as an amendment, " That the basis of representation should be as nearly as practicable population, and that the estimate of population for the purposes of representation should consist of Europeans and Maoris combined, and that the Maori Representation Act, 1867, with the continuing Act, should be repealed." He argued that the'time had arrived for repealing the special representation. It had been origninally provided for a period of five years, and from time to time the term had been continued. It .was not creditable to them as a legislature that while they had been engaged in liberalising the franchise excrcisod by Europeans they had dona nothing to extend a similar privilege to the natives. Mr Swanson concurred in the amendment. Mr Taiaroa suggested that it should stand over till next session, in order that the proposal might be considered and understood by the native population. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House met at 7.30 p.ms REPRESENTATION BILL. Mr Hall resumed the debate, saying he hoped the House would not adopt the amendment. With regard to its first clause, the difference between Mr Wood's and the Government proposals was only one of degree ; the Government proposals were to base representation as nearly as possible on population. The real question at issue was contained in the second proposition. Until it was really practicable to apply one law to natives and Europeans that proposition was impossible. It was no use deceiving themselves on this point. Obedience to laws and payment of taxes were essential preliminaries to the power of making and enforcing the laws in many respects, and necessarily and properly so. The fencing laws and other similar laws were not applied to natives, and for their own sakes we did not let them sell or mortgage their own lands. They were exempt from local and many other forms of taxation. It was not yet practicable to have one law for both races. It was not, therefore, desirable for them or just to the Europeans to give them equal electoral rights. Over a large portion of the North Island the Queen's writ was still waste paper, and yet it was proposed to give the natives who would not obey the law the power of making laws. No doubt a better day was dawning, but such proposals were altogether premature. This was shown by the speeches of the native members themselves. If the special representation was abolished as proposed, political power would soon pass from the natives to the vei-y worst class of Europeans. When the time came that the North Island, by increase of population, could claim an increase of representation, no one would more willingly accede to the request than he would. Mr Tomoana could not support the amendment. Time should be given the Maori reople to understand what was really proposed, as bad results might follow any sudden change. Mr Gisborne would at the proper time move an addition to the first clause of Mr Wood's amendment, to the effect that the present number of representatives returned by any provincial district should not be reduced. He was not prepared to assent unreservedly to the second part of Mr Wood's amendment. The Bubject required much more serious consideration. He spoke at great length in strong condemnation of the bill generally, as calculated to produce revolutionary consequences. Mr Moss said that out of the total Maori population of 42,000 there were not .above 10,000 amongst whom the Queen's writ did not run. He strongly supported the proposal to allow the natives equal electoral rights with Europeans. -, , Mr Lund on supported the amendment, contending that it was not fair to refuse electoral rights to tho natives who obeyed the law. becanse there were some who did Mr Hurst also supported the amendment, and spoke strongly in favor of the North Island being given representation in the same proportion to the South as at present. He held that property as well as population should be considered. Mr Speight urged the rights of the natives to equal electoral rights with Europeans. H the Maoris thought that their claim to special representation according to population would ever be allowed they were grievously mistaken. He did not think

Canterbury and Ofago would do justice to tho North in the matter of public works. Mr Andrews thought the Maoris wero merely used as a stalking horse in the debate What was really meant was increased representation for'the North Island It was time to abolish the special representation, and ;he would rote for the amendment. Mr Murray argued that the Maoris were on every ground of fairness and right, as tho largo landowners in the colony, entitled to equal political rights "* with ourselves. Their special representation " was not a success, and they should now be placed on an equal footing with the Euro* peans, Mr Sheehan could not agree that population should be the sole basis of representation. The country districts, with a scattered population, deserved consideration. He believed the bulk of the Maori population was adverse to the special representation. Mr Turnbull opposed the amendment. Messrs Levestam, George, Tole, and Seddon supported it. Mr Weston moved the adjournment of the debate. Major Atkinson opposed the adjournment, and hoped members would go on till the debate was concluded. The motion for the adjournment was lost on the voices, and the House divided on the question to go into committee on the "bill.—, Ayes, 40; noes, 19. The following is tho division list i— Ayes, 40. Noes, 19. Allwright Ballance Atkinson George Bain Gisborne Barron Grey Beetham Harris Bowen Hurst Bryce Hutchison Bunny Kelly Collins Levestam Dick Lundon Fisher, J. B. Moss Fisher, J. T. Pitt Hirst Russell Johnston Seddon Levin Shepard ->•" Mason Bwanson 4 M'Caughan Tole M'Donald Weston M'Lean Wood Montgomery Murray Oliver Reid Rolleston Saunders Seymour Shanks Shrimski Stevens • Studholme Sutton m Taiaroa ~ %. Te Wheoro Thomson Tomoana Trimble Turnbull Wakefield Wallis Whitaker Pairs. Ayes. Noes' Moorhouse Tawhai Wright Hursthouse Jones Hamlin Hall Reeves Fox Sheehan Stewart Colbeek Richardson Bastings Fulton Andrews Macandrew Speight DeLautour . Ormond Finn Gibbs The House went into committee. The first clause—the short title—was agreed to, and progress was reported. The House rose at 1.30.