GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4471, 17 June 1876, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Tkmcqiuph.]

WKfitiNCJTOtr, June 10th,

Tim first session of the Sixtti Parliament of New was this day opened by tho Governor, when Ilia Excellency was pleased to mako the following spoech:—

JIONOUKAJHj; LEOIHt,ATIVK CotJNOirXORH, ANI> Gkntmsmkn ot' the Housk ov Rki'iu> BENTATIVES—

I havo recourso to your advico and ansistanco with much satisfaction at an earlier period of the yew than has hitherto been usual. Since tho Assembly last met, tho Colony has been brought into telegraphic communication with other parts of the world. You will recognise that this event is of great importance to New Zealand. Proposals from tho Government of Now South Wales to aid in the establishment of a second line of communication with Europe and tho > reply of my Government thereto, will be laid before you. In pursuance of tho legislation of last session, important measures will bo submitted to you to give to th's country districts and to the towns a larger share of self-government than thoy hitherto enjoyed. Other legislation consequent upon the Abolition of the Provinces will be jnopoaed to you. 1 earnestly urge you to co-operate and assist in making as beneficial as possible the changes which are to take place immediately after tho termination of the present session: You may not be able to effect all that these changes will render necessary, but you will at least be able to deal with the principal measures, aw well as to provide again.it any inconvenience arising from deferred legislation. I desire specially to commend to your notice a Bill for establishing Counties, and for giving to them powers and revenues of an independent character, but with liberty to adopt concerted action with Boroughs and Road Districts. | During my recent visit to Auckland, I' availed myself of various opportunities of becoming personally acquainted with a large part of the North Island, and visited several of the Native tribes who occupy that portion of the Colony. I cannot refrain from expressing to you the gratification I derived from observing the rapid development of the splendid pastoral and agricultural country in the Province of Hawke's Bay-, awl on the Eiat Coast. I visited the Arawa tribes of the Bay of Plenty and Taupo, and also those of the Thames, as well as the largo and influential Ngapututu and Rarawa tribes of the North, by all of whom I was received in the mort cordial and loyal manner. The kindly feeling which I found existing between these tribes and the European settlers iv this district, together with the increasing desire on the part of the Natives to adopt the practices of civilised countries, as evinced by t'ue requests made specially by the Ngapututu tribe tor the construction of roads and telegraphs, and the establishment of Courts of Justice and schools, affords the most promising guarantee for the future peace and prosperity of the Colony. You will also learn with pleasure that in other Native districts besides tho?e to which I have referred, the relations between the two races continue to improve. Recent interviews between the Minister for Native affairs and Tawhiao, and other leading Waikato chiefs, have been of a highly satisfactory character. j : The results from the portions of the railways opened for traffic are encouraging and assuring. Beyond the good effected by promoting settlement, the railways already yield, in excess of working expenses, a material contribution towards the interest on the cost of their construction.

The prosperity of the Colony continues unabated. The prospects of the agricultural and industrial interests are satisfactory, and there are notable evidences of improvement in the results froca mining of all descriptions. Not the least pleasing feature of the progress of the Colony is the remarkable extent to which persons possessed of capital are coming from other Colonies and countries to invest their means and settle in New Zealand.

I direct your earnest attention to a measure which will be proposed to you for largely altering the system of dealing with and disposing of Native lands.

Gentlemen of the House of Refbesenta« tives —

: The estimates of expenditure for the coming year, framed as far as possihle to meet all the conditions arising from the Abolition of the Provinces, will be laid before you without delay. I invite your consideration of the papers re- T lating to the negotiations which my Government have entered into with the Bank of England. '-.'■'.

Honourable Legislative Councillors and ; Gentlemen of the House of Eeprehen- ! TATIVES —

; My advisers are forcibly impressed with the necessity of enlarging the facilities for acquiring land in moderate-sized blocks for cultivation and settlement. ; A Bill for the purpose iwill be submitted to you. It will also contain provisions for continuing the local administration of the waste lands.

Various other measures will be placed before you, as the time of the session permits. Amongst taem will be a Bill'to consolidate and amend the laws relating to boroughs, a Bill to amend the Debtors and Creditors Act, a measure to consolidate the laws relating to public works and' immijratioc, and B'lls amending the laws relating to Friendly Societies and to Building Societies. 1 I commend to your grave consideration the ■business of the session, and I pray that the Almighty will so guide and order your deliberations that they may be productive of happiness and prosperity to the people ot New Zealand. ■

In the House of Representatives,

The House met at 2 o'clock, and the following members, were sworn ia : —Messrs Carrinjton. Reader Wood, Ballance, Gibbs, J. Kelly, M'Farlane, and Baigent. : Petitions were received with respect to the East Coast and Thames, and the East Coast 'Maori electoral district.

A number of notices of motion were given, and papers laid upon the table. Sir K. Douglas gave notice that lie would move the address in reply. _ Mr Bastings will second it. Sir George Grey asked that the standing orders be suspended, in order that the following notice of motion be given, namely, that the be requested not to sanction the sale of any lands, or take any steps whatever under orders in Council, 12th June, 1876, published in the Gazette, making regulations for •the sale of certain l»nds known as Piako 'Swamp/until the House has had the oppor tunity of discussing said ordeiß ia Council It was not his intention to discuss the_ legality or of the sale; he merely wished to pre vent a great public wrong being done beyond repair. Mr Stout seconded the motion for suspension.

Sir Julius Vogel said it, was a most unusual time to make such, a motion. , There was no desire to evade discussion en the question, but there wes plenty of time yet. Mr Macandrew wanted an assurance from the Government that no action would be taken towards completing the Bale for the present. Sir J. Vogel said the matter had been dealt with by the Crown in the ordinary course, and anything that could be said could not affect the matter.

After some discussion,

The motion was put and carried by 37 against 28. The following is the division list:— Ayks, 37: Baigent, Barff, Bastings, Brandon, Brown J. 0., Bunny, Bums, Button, Ocrtis, Ec Latour, Dignan, Fisher, Grey, Hamlin, Joyce, Kennedy, Larnach, Lusk, Macandrew, Macfarlane, Montgomery, Murray, Nahi, O'Rorke, Rees, Rowe, Seaton, Shriiuski, SteveDS, Stout, Swanson, Tole, Thomson, Wakefield, Wason, Wood R. G., Wood W. Noes, 2&: Andrew, Atkinson, Ballance, Boweu, Cerrington, Cox, Fitzroy, Gibbs, Henry, Hunter, Hui'sthouse, Johnson, Kelly, Manuere, Sir 1). M'Lean, M'Lean G., Moorhouse, Alurray - Aynaley, Pyke, Reynolds, Richardson, Kiclunond, Seymour, Sharp, Sttfford, Tawhiti, Teschemaker, VogeL Sir G. Grey then moved the resolution itself. Mr Stout seconded the motion.

Sir J. Vogel said there appeared to be a misunderstanding in the matter. The Government were quite prepared to go into the whole question, as they held themselves responsible for what had been done, but they wanted no unfair action to be taken. If defeated, they would be in the position usually occupied by Governments who suffered a defeat. Ec as sured the Hom>e, however, that there was no necessity tor precipitancy, as the question would be in precisely the same position in which it was now in ten days time. MrMacandrew regretted that the Premier had not made this ext lanation before. Mr Bowen baid it was placing the Ministry in an unfair position. It was in a manner like taking a snap shot at them. Mr Etes asked why should the Government stteinpt to smuggle the matter by a Gazette that tsoin* of their own supporters had not seen 1 He maintained that every single regulation iv connection with this matter had been deliberately violated. He believed he was correct iv staling that only within the last few

waeka several thousands of acresof very yajuabla land adjoining the Piako Swamp [omission, ia. telegram J. If tho arrangement were just, no doubt both sides of the House would join in. affirming the action of tho Government; if not-, they would sot their foot upon it, evon should it involve the resignation of Ministers. Mr Button said ho had heard such charges* made against tho Government in thin matterthat it was only fair to them that a thorough investigation be made. If the charges wera well-founded, tho Government deserved sever© reprobation; if not, those who made such charges merited the keenest coiiHiire. He felt certain that the Government could givo an ex* planation of their conduct; but, although &>. Government supporter, ho would not counten~ ance anything that he could not see to tho bottom. He therefore desired there should ba no hoodwinking, and that tho whole matter should be ventilated. He hoped that Sir GL Gray would accept tho suggestion made, and postpone the matter, as many of the new arrivals in the House woro without any information oil the point. The Hon. Mr Atkinson said that the remarks of the last speaker justified tho attitude taken by the Premier. While admitting to a leaning: towards the Government, he (Mr Button) waa yet so influenced by lobby rumours that ne an well as other followers of the Government believed the mere ex parts statements of tho leader of the Opposition, and defeated the Government on the first division of the session. This motion struck at tho very foundation of: the Ministry, and made the question resolve itsolf into this: that tho Ministry were, or wera not, fit to administer tho ordinary departmental affairs of the country. Though he was in no way connected with the transaction, ho had. examined into it, and was prepared to say that no Government could, undor the circumstances, have made a bettor bargain. He wished tha House distinctly to understand that he would delay nothing in connection with the prenM&~ tion of the Crown grant because of the motion, of the leader of the Opposition. Mr Wakefield entiroly dissented from, t&a view taken by th& Minister of Immigration, that many members had voted against the Ministry because of what had bWi said in tha lobbies, or by the leader of the Opposition. What really influenced them was .the want of information, and had the Government afforded at once the information they had subsequently/, the motion "vould not have been put; or, if pat, tho majority would have been reversadL He hoped the motion would be withdrawn, as it was impossible they could get such a goodL discussion upon the subject at tnis point. . Mr Joyce hoped that the motion would Impressed to a division, especially after the defiant attitude of the Minister of Immigration. Mr Waflon explained that he voted for tim motion solely because he wanted more informa* tion upon this matter, to which were attached; some grave charges and very ugly rumoura^; although ne would be found a Government supporter upon the main question of policy^ Ho still hoped thay would give am assurano© that this matter would not bo gone on with for a few days at any rate. Messrs J&'iaher and Larnach spoke ia favour of the motion.

Mr Sharp thought the mode in which tha motion was put placed a false issue before the House.

. Mr Seymour thought the last speaker hit the blot properly, for the motion seemed to lunvt* be putting Ministers upon their trial, and with a vengeance. If the action of this sale went illegal, there -wure ways of upsetting if- and of - making the Ministry suffer for any misdoing j but it was Very unwise to begin interfering' at' that early period of the session with what was purely departmental. Mr Swanaon quoted from the Journals of fchft House to show that the Government had given the House the assurance that they would brio® down a Bill to legalise the Piako sale, Mr Montgomery would not have voted foe the motion if the Premier had given the explanation when first asked that he did afterwards. He hoped that the motion would bet withdrawn on the assurance of the Premier that the matter would be in the same position, ten or twelve days hence. Mr Wood said that, according to an uadeiw standing come to lost session, the mutter was to be held in abeyance until the new Parliament had an opportunity for considering the whola matter. —(Oh, oh! from Ministerial benches. | Here was a case where the money was paid, and a Grown grant was to bo issued in a fort~ night after. Who out of the many of them, who bought Government land had ever 06----tained a Crown grant in a fortnight ? Nor did he think this Crown grant likely to be issued ia the time named, and the member for Auckland! City West might make his mind easy oa that point, and withdraw his motion. Sir D. M'Lean said that a very thorough iitvesfcigation was made last session, and the re~port acquitted the Government of all blame j: but. nothwithstanding the severe and exhaustive investigation, the Government wero still prepared to face an enquiry, and stand byevery action of theirs ia connection with, this , transaction.

- Mr I>e Latotir referred to the report to show that it was susceptible of a very different interpretation to that put upon it by the Native minister. : Sir Robert Douglas remarked it appeared to him. that the question waß not the Piako Swamp at all, but as to whether Ministers should occupy the Government benches. Mr Hamliti observed that he had come ta the House pledged to see this matter thoroughly sifted, and considered it was due to the House* and Colony that the Government should not shirk any inquiry into the matter. Mr Reynolds thought the time was very &fc» opportune for tabling such a motion. Mr Eowo thought Sir G. Grey's request «» reasonable that he was surprised to see the Ministry opposed to it. Though very muck inclined to support the Ministry generally, ha yet was most anxious to see this matter sifted to the bottom. These dealings with the public land were considered the most important in the district he came from. Though h& would regret to see Ministers leave the Government benches, yet no threat of that kin<l would influence him in this matter.

Mr Woolcock thought if, when the land was sold, the price was quite adequate, that ought to be a sufficient reason to show the trans* action was fair and honourable. He hoped that the motion would be withdrawn oa tha assurance of the Government.

Sir George Grey said he understood a positive pledge .was given last session that the mattec would not be dealt with by orders in Council, bufe that a Bill would be brought down this session* so that the new Parliament mijjht be enabled to discuss the whole qustion. He had appealed to the Governor that the Crown might has thrown round hiui, to enable him to legally tesfc what he considered to be a most monstrous wrong to the community; and what answtir did he (jet but the audacious publication of orders in Council in the Gazette. They wers told the price: was adequate, but if so, what had that to do with the case ? It was thn ille jdJity of the transaction. They had been placed aa conservators of the public interests, and fcbsy pillaged the public. They were told that the. land was unfit for settlement of small farmers, but had the Government not money to mak<» roads ? How many roads had they made to tha runs of friends of the Government? He denied he had my intention of shaking the potitica ©£ Ministers in bringing down his motion, and after the assurance of the Premier, he begged to withdraw his motion.

Mr Andrew objected, and A division was.called for, the result being 2$ for motion ; ,29 against The Speaker gave his casting vote witb. £k<s Noes, in order to afford further opportunity for difcossion.

The following is the division list:— Ayes, 29: Barff, Brandon, Brown J. G»; Burns, Button, Curtis, De Latour, Di^nan, Fisher, Grey, Hamlin, Joyce, Lusk, Maoandrew, M'Farlane,' Montgomery, Murray* Napi, O'Rorkej Rees, Rowe, Seaton, ShrimaS, Str.ut, Swanson, Tole, Thomson, Wood R. G.» Wood

Noes, 29: Andrew, Atkinson, BaUanc% Bowen, Cariington, Ccx, Douglas, Gibba^ Henry, Hunter, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kelly^ Kennedy, M'Lean, M'Lean G., Mooehoa^ Murray Aynsley, Pearce, Reynolds, Richard* son, Seymour, Sharp, Stafford, T-twhiti, Voge^, Williams, Woplcock. The House adjourned at 5.30 to 7.30.