PARLIAMENTARY. Tuesday, Ist August.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY. Tuesday, Ist August.

A lengthy statement by Mr. Curtis as to the proceedings and conclusions of the Eastern Maori District Election Committee, and a short statement by the Hon. Mr. Richardson as to damage done to the Grey River railway bridge, were the principal items of interest in the afteraoon previous to the House going into committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill. Mr. Curtis gave a somewhat humorous account of native views of elections and the duties of returning officers, as discovered in the evidence before the committee, and concluded by moving that the clerk should attend next day to endorse the writ for the return of Karaitiana. The Premier did not oppose, the Government acquiescing in, though not endorsing, the conclusion arrived at by the committee. Mr. Richardson's explanation of the accident at Brunnerton was that the superstructure had fallen, not the piers, and that its reconstruction would cost £1000. The cause of the accident was either faulty casting or erroneous calculations, though the anchor plates were estimated to be three times the requisite strength. The strictest investigation would be made, and the result reported to the House. MR. WHITAKER'S RESOLUTIONS. It had been arranged that Mr. Whitaker's propositions relating to the land revenue should be debated on the House resuming in the evening, and, though it was understood the debate would be restricted to few speakers, there was a larger attendance in each of the galleries, including those of the Legislative Councillors and the ladies, than on any previous occasion. Mr. Whitaker spoke for upwards of two hours, and to the end commanded the attention of the House, first by his historical sketch of the land laws and the compact of 1856, then by his arguments, and occasionally by his humour. Sir Julius Vogel occupied nearly the same time in reply, and, though somewhat slow and hesitating at first in answering Mr. Whitaker's history by counter quotations, he became more animated towards the end, and especially in describing the reasons for a preference being given to the Government proposals, in the interests of the outlying districts and of the expansion, rather than the contraction, of local government. Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew were the only other speakers, and the former addressed himself only to the subject so far as it enabled him to intimate the nature of the resolutions of which he afterwards gave notice. Mr. Whitaker's resolutions were as follows :— " That clauses C, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Provincial Abolition Financial Arrangements Bill be omitted, and in lieu thereof that the following clauses, to come into operation on the 29th September next, be inserted: — "1. AH revenue arising from the waste lands of the Crown is part of her Majesty's Consolidated Revenue of the colony. 2. All sums of money and expenditure heretofore charged on revenue arising from waste lands of the Crown are hereby charged on and made payable out of her Majesty's Consolidated Revenue. 3. All assets and liabilities of the several provinces are assets and liabilities of the colony. Provided that cash in hand, on the 29th day of September, 1876, received from waste lands of the Crown, shall be expended in the province in which it has been received, on such public tvorks (not otherwise provided for) as the General Assembly shall determine." He traced the history of the land legislation of the colony since 1840, contending that it was always a recognised principle that the land fund was not localised but the possession of the State. He characterised the arrangement of 1856 as in no correct sense a compact, but simply a measure of expediency, which was not confirmed by Imperial legislation, which was liable to alteration at any time, and which had so frequently been infringed upon as to be now altogether or almost non-existent. He referred to the present confusion of financial arrangements, the necessities of the colony in regard to the maintenance of its credit, and to the easy achievement of that and other desirable ends by the conversion of the land fund into consolidated revenue. Sir Julius Vogel gave what he contended to be the correct version of the history, intent, and consequences of the arrangement or compact of 1850, which had continued to be recognised for twenty years throughout all tne legislation that had succeeded it. The resolutions he characterised as inexpedient and inopportune, by distracting members from greater and more urgent objects — abolition, and the interests of outlying districts. The resolutions involved a revolution in the constitution of the colony, and a material and serious interference with the policy to which the country and the House were committed. He quoted statistics to show the influence of part of that policy upon the country, and contended that, while rapidity of executing public works compelled us to pay more for the loans and to extend them, there was nothing in the position of these loans to make them doubt the policy or fear the future. Sir George Grey said they were all familiar with the subject raised by Mr. Whitaker, each member having, no doubt, heard it discussed, or read discussions on it, a hundred times. It would be hopeless for him to change the opinions of anyone, or to influence a single vote. But there was a still stronger reason for saying little on the subject. This country at the present moment stood on the edge of a precipice, and was in very great peril. Although the remedy proposed to be applied to its condition was a palliative, it was not equal to meeting our difficulties, The difficulty was not only of a financial but of a constitutional nature. Only a quick remedy could free us from the perils that beset us, and place us on the course by which we might achieve prosperity. It had been admitted that night that we were entering on a year of great financial difficulty. That had been admitted by Mr. Whitaker and by the Premier, and various remedies had been suggested, such as a floating debt and other similar circumstances. Itmusthave been with inexpressible concern that members heard thesuggestions as to the mean 3of saving us from the perils which threatened us, which was only to be done by a large reduction of expenditure. The feelings with which be heard the Premier, he was sure, must be shared by all. The remedy proposed by Mr. Whitaker was one for which they must thank him ; if his resolutions were carried they would aid the views which he (Sir George Grey) and otheK held in common, but if they were not adopted there would then be s

necessity for the remedy which he had to pTOpose. The remedy which he would propose in that event was embodied in resolutions which he would propose at the earliest convenience of the House, and with proper courtesy to Mr. Wakefield, as the proposer of other resolutions not yet considered. He concluded by reading the series of resolutions, printed in another column. Mr. Macandrew was the only other member who spoke to the resolutions. * He intended to oppose them on the same grounds that he opposed the Government proposals, their aim and result being the same — one purse for the colony, aud abnegation of the compact ot. agreement of 185 G. He regarded that agreement as binding so long as New Zealand had any regard for public faith ; but Mr. Whitaker's resolutions were directly opposed to it in spirit and iv letter, as might also be said, in a less degree, of the Government proposals. That" compact, confirmed aud ratified as it was by twenty years prescriptive right, might be considered in the same category as the laws of the Medes and Persians, which altered not. If this Legislature rescinded that compact, they would bo admitting principles of action of tlie greatest possible danger— elements which might result in the greatest disaster to the country— what he might call spoliation, or; Wore dor-* ; rectly, communism. It was communism in either case, yet of the two he would be disposed to give a preference to Mr. Whitaker's proposals, which were straight forward and unambiguous. Mr. Whitaker sent the dagger into the heart of his victim before tire victim's eyes: the Government proposed to suck out his blood by a roundabout process ; the result was the same. After repeated calls' of "Question," the Speaker called upon Mr. Whitaker to reply, but he waived his right, and a division was taken with the following result:— For the motion, 21; against, 54. Subjoined is the division-list : — Ayes.— Andrew (teller), Dignan, Douglas, Gibbs, Grey, Hamlin,.Lusk, Macfarlane, Read, G. E., Rees, Richmond, Rowe, Sharp, Swanson, Tawiti, Tole, Tonks, Wakefield, Whitaker (teller), Williams, Wood R. G. Noes.— Atkinson, Baigent, Ballance, Barff, Bastings, Bowen, Brandon, Brown, J. C, Brown, J. E., Bryce, Burns, Button, CarrinKton, Cox, De Latour, Fisher, Fitzroy, Henry, Hislop, Hodgkinson, Hunter, Johnston, Joyce, Kennedy, Kenny, Larnacb, Lumsden, Macandrew (teller), Manders, Sir D. M'Lean, M'Lean, G., Montgomery; Moorhouse, Murray, Murrav-Aynsley, Pearce, Pyke, Reid, D. f Reynolds (teller), Richardson, Rolleston, Seaton, Seymour, Shrimski, Stafford, Stevens, Stout, Taiaroa, Teschemaker, Thompson, Tribe, Sir J. Vogel, Wason, Wookock. Pairs.— For: Curtis, Hursthouse, O'Rorkc, Sheehm, H. Nahe. Against : Bunny, Ormond, Harper, Kelly, W. R. Russell. The Premier said it would be quite unreasonable tor the Government to proceed with other business, while such resolutions were not disposed of, and he proposed that Sir George Grey should give notice of them at once, so that they might to considered at next sitting, or if that were not done, an adjournment should be made. Mr. Stout and Mr. Reid objected, considering that there was sufficient private business to be proceeded with. Mr« Stevens and Mr. Moorhouse strongly urged . the Government not to proceed, the so-caUod private business being in many particulars important, and the resolutions being really ft test of administration. Mr. Wakeneld took the same view, and intimated that his propositions would not stand in the way. Major Atkinson repeated the decision of the Government, and referred to the inconvenience that would arise, if Sir George Grey did not then give notice of his motions. , • ' . The adjournment of the House having been' moved, it became necessary to negative that, to give Sir George Grey an opportunity 6l giving notioe. This was' done, and Sir George Grey gave notice, and moved the adjournment, of the House till half-past seven on Thursday! , evening, the Government assenting.