PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9130, 11 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[by TBLKGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. THE LANDS OF THE CROWN. Mr. Waterhouse moved that an address bo presented to the Governor asking him to introduce a Bill providing that no Bills disposing of Lands of the Crown shall be introduced by private members. The Attorney-General objected to the motion, asking Mr. Waterhouse to withdraw it. After debate the motion was agreed to on the voices. BILLS ADVANCED. A number of bills were advanced several stages, and the Local Courts Proceedings Bill and the Otago Harbour Board Indemnity and Land Vesting Bill, were passed. The Council rose at five. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday. THE NATIVE LAND BILL. AN ALL NIGHT SITTING. After the galleries were cleared Inst night Mr. Taiwhanga continued speaking for some time, but ultimately withdrew his motion, that the chairman leave the chair. A point of order was raised shortly afterwards, and Taiwhanga, who had resumed his seat, not rising again immediately, clause 3 was carried on the voices before he appeared to realise the situation. On the clause providing that the natives may alienate lands like Europeans, subject to certain restrictions, Sir G. Grey moved an amendment prohibiting the purchase of land beyond the value of £2500. Mr. Verrall moved a further amendment to substitute £3000. At half-past one a.m. the galleries were re-opened, and Taiwhanga, assisted by Taipua, continued his opposition. At four a.m. Mr. Taylor spoke for some time on the side of the Maori members amid frequent interruptions. Mr. Reeves (Inangahua) also spoke for about an hour, professing himself always ready to help the weak against the strong. After that Taiwhanga resumed his quotations from The Groans of the Maoris," a book of which he had previously made considerable use, and urged the Government to postpone the Bills until they could be considered by a great meeting of chiefs in March next, "at the Bay of Islands. At a quarter-past eight Taut a moved that an adjournment be allowed for breakfast, and Mr. Seymour, who was then in the chair, said he would vacate it till a quarter past nine, and left the chair. The Colonial Secretary at once moved that Mr. Cowan take the chair, but opposition was raised and a division demanded, and eventually the Speaker had to bo sent for to decide whether the proceedings were in order. He ruled that a division must be allowed, and by 21 to 7 Mr. Cowan was voted into the chair. Mr. Taylor spoke again, and had to apologise to Mr. Yerrall for saying the member for Ashley seemed to be a shingle or two short Mr. Carroll followed, and addressing himself to the natives in the gallery, defended the action of himself and Mr. Pratt. They supported the Bill he said because there was a general demand for the repeal of the Native Land Administration Act, and on the whole the Bills now under discussion embodied the wishes of the natives as expressed at. their meetings. Mr. Taiwhanga said if he had made any charges against Mr. Carroll he would withdraw them ; but he wished legislation to be deferred till next session, and wou|d fight the matter to the bitter end. At one o'clock he moved ati adjournment for an hour, which was lost by 34 to 4. Mr. Taut a then came to his assistance again. Mr. Reeves (Inangahua) suggested at two p.m. that an adjournment of an hour should be taken for refreshments ; but the Premier refused, saying that, although he would not oppose any reasonable amendment, he should go right through with the Bill without adjournment. Mr. Carroll expressed disapproval of Mr. Taiwhanga's action in stonewalling, and said he was not expressing the wish of the natives in his opposition to the Bill. Mr. Taipua then spoke till about three o'clock against the Bill, and Mr. Taiwhanga till four p.m. Mr. Pratt disagreed with the stonewalling tactics of his Maori colleagues, and said he could not oppose the Bill, as his people were all in favour of the repeal of the Native Land Administration Act.

Mr. Taipua again rose and spoke for an hour, and Mr. Reeves (Inangahua), kept the debate going till the half-past five adjournment. The committee continued at half-past seven.

Mr. Seddon stated that he had been informed that Major Kemp and a chief from Wairarapa wished to be heard at the bar of the House. He thought it would be to the benefit of all if their views on so radical a change in native policy could be heard, and he asked the Premier to consent to their appearing before the committee. Sir H. Atkinson said he would be glad to hear any proposal Mr. Taiwhanga had to make.

Mr. Taiwhanga said he would withdraw his opposition to clause 4 if the Premier would agree to the chiefs appearing at the bar of the House.

Mr. Taipua also said he wished to bring the discussion to an end, and supported Mr. Taiwhanga's proposal. The Premier said if he understood all obstruction was to be withdrawn, and merely reasonable debate allowed on all the Native Bills, he would agree to hearing the chiefs at the Bar of the House as soon as clause 4 was passed. Mr. Taut a was understood to coincide with the Premier, but Mr. Taiwhanga was not in the Chamber.

Sir G. Grey and Mr. Sedpon objected to the passing of the clause first. Sir H. Atkinson pointed out that he had been willing to hear native spokesmen at the bar of the House all along. Sir G. Grey warned the native members that they would get no advantage at all by allowing the clause to pass before the chiefs were heard.

Mr. Carroll thought clause 4 must be passed before anyone was admitted to the bar of the House.

Sir G. Grey strongly opposed the clause, which would result in handing over native lands to wealthy syndicates, and our forests sharing the same fate as our kauri was about to do.

The Premier said the clause was similar to the one drafted by the natives themselves, except that the safeguard of the Frauds Commissioner was interposed in the Government Bill.

Considerable discussion followed, Mr. Seddon taking up the cudgels on behalf of Sir G. Grey, whom Mr. Carroll accused of insincerity. Colonel Fraser stated that unless some restriction was placed in the way of native lands being sola in large blocks ho should join the stonewallers.

Mr. Hutchison pointed out that clause 4 was practically the only clause left in the Bill, and to p.ss that first would be to pass the whole Bill before hearing the chiefs ; besides, there were some members who wished to move amendments on the clause, but had hitherto been compulsorily silent on account of the obstruction tactics pursned.

Sir George Grey informed the House that the two chiefs whose names had been mentioned, had just told him they would not appear at the Bar of the House unless they could speak before clause 4 was passed. He denied the charge of insincerity. He had always striven for equal rights for both races, and a representative of the native race should have been the last to hurl slander at him.

Mr. Carroll pleaded that he had no intention of slandering the hon. gentleman ; but ho was still bound to think Sir G. Grey's opposition was really in the interests of Europeans, not of the Maoris. The Colonial Secretary deprecated the interference of the hon. member, who, as some of the previous speakers had shown, was perfectly in ignorancS of the scope of the Bill. He went on to explain the bearing of its provisions in detail, and met the objection Unit clause 4 was also found in another of the Bills, by saying it was necessary, in order to make the intention quite clear, to insert it here also.

Mr. Reeves (St. Albans) thought the Government responsible for the stonewalling, as they had given way to the wallers of the Otago Central Railway

Bill. As ho had opposed obstruction then he must support the Government now ; bub he intended to give careful consideration to any reasonable amendment in the Bills. He was afraid after the spectaSles of this session the country would insist on some amendment in the procedure rules. Dr. Fitchett moved to report progress, to enable the chiefs to be heard at the bar.

The Premier said ho would consent if clause 4 was passed. He would also give an opportunity of inserting restrictive amendments in the Native Land Court Bill, which was a companion to this measure, and must pass or fall with it. He could not say the Government would propose such amendments, but ho would consider them carefully.

The motion to report progress was negatived on the voices.

After some ther opposition by Sir G. Grey clause 4 was carried by 55 to 10, and progress was then reported, and the Premier moved that Major Kemp and Piripi be allowed to appear at the bar of the House, which was agreed to. The Speaker lai 1 on the table a petition he had received from '20 native chiefs, praying that the Bill should be postponed till the meeting of Maoris in March. The chiefs were then admitted.

Major Kkm v said he appeared to ask for a delay of the Native Bills. They had been placed in their hands yesterday, and they had not had time to consider them. Tho Premier had promised they should be circulated throughout the colony, but thoy were not. He proceeded to give his objections to the Bills beforo the House, specially to throwing open lands for sale. Ho reminded the House that, he had fought upon the side of the Europeans, but his services appeared to have been forgotten. He asked for a beneficent, measure which would protect their lands. When, as formerly, the chiefs alone negotiated sales, there never was any difficulty ; it was only since European customs had been introduce that titles became complicated. He also expressed a fear that though the taxation clauses had been withdrawn they might be enacted at any moment. Piripi said the chiefs now in Wellington looked on these Bills as of tho greatestimportance, insomuch as they were likely to affect, themselves and their property. They wished for delay, as expressed in the petition sent to the Speaker. The chiefs having withdrawn, consideration of the Native Land Bill in committee was resumed.

Mr. M itchklson moved that clause sbe struck out.

Mr. Hutchison wished to have it retained, with certain provisos, which he moved.

The clause was retained by 28 to 23. Sir J. Hall and Mr. Carroll expressed regret at the decision, which would have tho effect of removing restrictions. Mr. Hutchison's provisos were then discussed.

Mr. Mitchelson said the committee had made a serious mistake, and hoped the clause, when amended by the addition of the provisos, would be rejected. After debate the Premier suggested that the clause should remain as it stood, and the Government would consider what should bo done in the matter.

Mr. Hutchison withdrew his provisos, and tho remaining clauses were struck out. On the motion of Mr. ('adman, a new clause was agreed to, enabling auriferous lands sold by natives to be resumed by the Crown in the usual way. Progress was reported on the Native Land Court Bill, and the House rose at twenty minutes to two,.after sitting 35 hours.