NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, July 24.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 129, 3 August 1866, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, July 24.

Mr. WMtaker moved the first of a series of resolutions of which he had given notice. That, in the opinion of this House, temporary provision should be made for the better government of the Province of Auckland. He said discontent prevailed in the province, and that a population of 75,000 persons was entitled to greater consideration. He complained of the working of the Native Lands Court, and the permission given to the Natives to encroach in all directions. If the native records were in Auckland, disj putts would be sooner settled. A local Government was necessary to cope with the native difficulties. The Opotiki disputes would have been sooner settled, and the murderers of Volkner and Fulloon sooner punished, had there been local government with supreme authority. A permanent force and not a militia, was necessary for the North Island. He obI jected to the removal of the seat of Government from the centre of the native population to the end of the island. The removal was inconvenient and dangerous. All the other provinces were dissatisfied but Wellington, which was pleased with the seat of Government, the Panama route, the Manuwata block, and the three-eighths of the customs they expected to get. Too much time was spent in legislating at Wellington, and the Southern people were disgusted with the constant reference to native affairs. The North should manage these affairs, and the South not be required to pay for them. One remedy for these evils was entire separation with no federal junction ; and another was that which he proposed. They did not want ultra-provincialism but the management of native affairs without being cut off altogether from the rest of the colony. The xnd people were willing to make a compromise with the south, with regard to financial affairs and get out of the present partnership with unlimited liability. The people of the north would manage their native affairs much more cheaply, and would not have to take such unlimited sums from the south. An additional argument in favor of his proposal, was approved by several eminent British statesmen, who were conversant with colonial affairs. Mr. R. Graham seconded, and the House went into committee. Mr. Stafford praised the tone of the speech just made, but disapproved of the attempt to frighten the young members of a new Parliament. There was really no danger threatened, and the constitution should not be tampered with without good cause. The people of Auckland could not be permitted to have sole authority over their own affairs and take part in the legislation of the colony. All defects in the law were remediable by the legislature, and the Government could not frame a measure of separation within the four corners of Mr. Cardwell's despatch that would satisfy the people of Auckland and be just to the rest of the colony. Changes might be rendered necessary by time, but violent changes he would never consent to. If change was necessary in Auckland, the way to meet the case was to bring back things to their normal condition, not to separate the provinces from the rest of the colony. Mr. Whicaker did not warn the members from the Middle Island when he was prime minister of the colony, and he would not easily persuade them now that insular separation was a good thing. He had not when a minister of the crown proposed the abolition of elective superintendents and the substitution of Lieutenant-Governors. Such an officer would have no power except what was conferred upon him by act of parliament. In reference to the disastrous event on the East Coast, they were not caused by the absence of a government. Taranaki was only eight or ten hours sail from Auckland, but proximity to Government had not prevented disaster. There was more discontent in Auckland against the Provincial than against the General Government. It

was impossible for Governments in their own provinces to have the sole control over the natives there. The fact of a defeat of rehels in Auckland would cause them to go into Taranaki or Hawke's Bay. It was absurd to suppose that the Provincial Governments should have concurrent power with the General Government in judicial matters as was now proposed. It was impossible that the legislature of New Zealand should assent to these resolutions, however much it might wish to improve the government of Auckland. Mr. Dick enlarged on the necessity of increasing the powers of the Provincial Council, instancing the lands and gold-fields of Otago, which are made and altered by the General Government. He moved as an amendment, " In the opinion of this House temporary provision should be made for the better government of the colony of New Zealand." The House divided on the question, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question." The result was, Ayes, 42 ; Noes, 24. The debate was adjourned till the 25th.