PARLIAMENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4935, 9 June 1887, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

Yesterday, GOVERNMENT LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES BILL,

On the motion for thb third rending of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill Dr. Pollen repeated his objections to the system of reckless borrowing by the local bodies all over the country, and moved that the bill be read a third time that day six months. Mr Reeves asked for an explanation of clauses 18 and 19, but Mr Reynolds said he had already explained them. After a short debate the amendment was rejected by 18 to 15, and the bill was read a third time and passed. CHATTELS SECURITIES. The Chattels Securities Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to remove advances on wool, crops, &c, from the operations of the Act in accordance with a decision of the Court of Appeal, was read a second time and passed through committee, and read a third time and passed. COUNTIES ACT. The amendments made by the House in the Counties Act Amendment Bill were partly considered. INTERPRETATION BILL. The Interpretation Act Amendment Bill was passed through committee with an amendment making it apply to the Constitution Act, and it was explained that under this the Government would have the power to appoint an Acting-Speaker of the Council. The bill was read a third time and passed. The Council adjoui.ied at 5 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Yesterday. PREROGATIVE OF DISSOLUTION. Mr Rolleston gave notice to move on the following day, "That the exercise of the prerogative of dissolution under the system of triennial Parliaments is fraught with great danger to the independence of Parliament and the successful working of representative institutions in the interest of the people." WEST COAST SETTLEJIENTS RESERVES. The West Coast Settlements Reserves Act Amendment Bill was further considered n. committee. Mr Ballance said he intended to move for the re-committal of the bill in order to insert a clause empowering the natives themselves to elect the assessors on behalf of native owners. Mr Taipua urged that tho further consideration of the bill be postponed till next session, owing to the confusion that existed and the trouble that had been caused by the present Government in legislating for the Maori people. Mr Locke supported the views of the Dative members, and pointed out that at the end of the session the bill could not receive proper consideration. It was quite time that the whole question of native lands was taken up and put in proper order to avoid the confusion that at present existed on the subject. Dr Newman said the bill should not pass in its present form unless Mr Ballance brought in a clause to prevent the wholesale depreciation of the property of the native people. Mr Samuel hoped that the members would not continue their opposition to the bill, as it was only a matter of justice to the settlers concerned. Mr Katene said that Mr Samuel was speaking for the benefit of the Turanaki settlers, and ho was therefore not impartial. He (Mr Katene) thought it was very unlikely that those settlers would abandon their land if this bill were postponed till next session. If the Ministry had been forced to resign ho (Mr Katene) might havo been made Native Minister himself, and then he could have brought in a better bill than the present one. A new clause was added to tho bill allowing transfers or assignments of leases to be made with the consent of the lessor. A further clause was added to the bill enabling the Public Trustee to grant a lease of 560 acres to Mr S. Caverhfll, of Hawera. Mr Samuel moved a new clause permitting a person who had Burrended his lease to take up a new lease. He said that, this was a most necessary provision. Mr Ballance said it would bo giving a dangerous power, but he was willing to take the opinion of the committee on it. After some further discussion Mr Ballance agreed to report progress, to allow Mr Samuel's clause to be considered by the native members. Mr Wi Pore said that if this clause were passed all tho Europeans would abandon their leases in the hope of getting fresh ones. Ho had no objection to the clause if the land were dealt with by public auction. Progress was reported on the bill for half an hour. sourn island native resebves. Sir Julius Vogel moved the second reading of the South Island Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the object of the bill was to provide for the management of tho native reserves in tho South Island, to render more clear the regulations applying to the leasing of the Greymouth reserve, to deal with the renewal of the lease of the Motueka reserve, and to bring the Native Reserves Act and the Mining Acts into harmony so .as to provide for expropriations for ruining purposes. Mr Pratt objected to the bill, and presented a petition from Taiaroa against it. MessrsHursthouse, Scddon, and Guinness strongly supported the bill. Tho former said that Mr Pratt was not acting in the interests of the natives whom he was sent to represent by opposing it. He explained the position of the Mohaka reserves at some length, and said there was urgent necessity for the bill being passed. Mr Turnbull said that Mr Pratt's request for the postponement of the bill was a reasonable one, and he hoped it would be deferred till the following day. Sir Julius Vogel having briefly replied the motion for the second readiug was carried by 30 to 20. council's amendments. The amendments made by the Council in the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill and the Interpretation Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. SOUTH ISLAND NATIVE RESERVES BILL. On the motion to go into committee on the South Island Native Reserves Bill, Mr Pratt vehemently protested against the attempt to forco a measure affecting the interests of the Maoris through tho House, dlid announced his intention of opposing it by all constitutional means. There was no reason why tho bill could not stand over for three months. Mr Rolleston supported Mr Pratt's views. Mr Hursthouse said that neither Mr Pratt nor Mr Rolleston knew what they were talking about. The bill was the outcome of the reports of commissioners appointed by that House, and was designed to relitve an oppressed tenantry. Some of the leases had already expired, and legislation was urgently needed before the reserves could be re-let.

Mr Tumbull and Mr Ormond suggested that a short bill should be brought in to validate the leases for three months.

Sir Julius Vogel said that the chief opposition was to the portion of the bill relating to tho Greymouth reserves, aud he was willing to go on with those portions on'.y which were not contested.

Mr Guinness said that an injustice had been perpetrated under the original Act and this bill sought to remedy it. Ho claimed equal justice for the Europeans as well as the Maoris.

Sir George Grey suggested that the Motueka clauses should bo passed, and the Greymouth portion left over till next session.

Mr Wi Pere {followed in the same strain as Mr Pratt, urging the withdrawl of the bill, as it had not been circulated long enough, to enable them to grasp its provisions. Mr Taipua coincided in that view. Mr Locke hoped that the bill would be put off till next session. Sir Julius Vogel said he would agree to postpone the committal of the bill till the following day, and this was accordingly done.

WEST COAST SETTLEMENT RESERVES. I West Coast Settlement Reserves Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee.

Tho Maori members continued their opposition, and Sir Julius Vogel said he would consent to report progress till the following day to enable the House to get on with other business. Major Atkinsou begged the Maoris to withdraw their option, us it was a measure of justice to which both sides admitted tho tenants had fair cluims, and the matter would not admit of delay.

Sir George Grey suggested that Messrs Wi Tako and Taipua should be appointed coadjutors to act with tho assessors under the hill. This, he thought, would get oyer tiie difficulty w

Major Atkinson and Mr Ballance both professed their readiness to agree to this compromise. Mr Taipua preferred to have some other name than his put in. Sir Julius Vogel wished the appointment of such a hoard, and said it would have to be understood that the Public Trustee was relieved of all responsibility. Mr Taipua eventually said ho would leave himself in the hands of tho House, and Mr Samuel's clause relative to the surrender of leases was then passed.

Sir Julius Vogel moved to report proTess, so as to give time to consider the position in which the Public Trust Office was now placed. Major Atkinson animadverted on the spectacle of tho Treasurer opposing a measure of which-the Native Minister had charge. Mr Ballance explained that properly the bill came within the Treasurer's department, and he only took charge of it as a matter of convenience.

Mr Seddon defended Sir Julius Vogel's action, which ho said was quite justified by his position as a member of the Public Trust Board. A long discussion followed, ending in the motion to report progress being lost on the voices. The bill was reported with amendments, and recommitted in order to insert a provision for appointing Wi Taku and Taipua coadjutors of the assessor. Sir Julius Vogel wished to speak after the recommittal had been carried by 39 to 17, but was ruled out of order. He challenged the Speaker's ruling, and Sir Maurice O'Eorkc told him he had better give notice of motion censuring the Speaker. The neccysaiy amendments were considered , but were postponed till the following day at 11 a.m.

The House rose at 1 a.m