PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2122, 16 August 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PEB PBE3S AGENCY.] HOUSE OF EEPBESENTATIVES. •; .;, */WjsiiiiNGiojr, Saturday.; CONFISCATED HANDS, On the House resuming last night at 7.30, Sir Donald McLean moved that the debate oh the Abolition' Bill bo postponed until : Sir.Georgo Grey's motion be disposed of. 1 .. ; :. ; ...

Mr Keid opposed, saying tho question of Abolition;was more important. Mr Bolleston opposed the postponement of Sir George Grey's motion, as the question of tho administration of native lands was too important to bo shelved. Mr Fitzherbert thought tho'Government should givo somo good reason when they proposed to intercept the ordinary business of tho House. Such a course was only adopted by ministers when a voto of want of confidenco was under discussion.' Such was not the case now, and it was not fair to pervert and torture the words of Sir George Grey's motion into such a meaning. Tho question was put and decided on tho voices, that tho debato on Sir George Grey's motion be continued!

Mr White moved and amendment that tho question be reported to a committee of the wholo House.

1 his was ruled by tho Speaker to be out of order.

_Mr Whito then moved that leavo be given to introduce tho proposed bill that day six months.

Mr Beid blamed tho member for Timatu for making this a party question. Unpleasant rumours which might be without foundation wero afloat respecting tho disposal of certain confiscated lands, and the matter should bo disposed of, and the Government should not havo derogated from their position by reto introduce the bill. Becollecting tho strict enquiry made into tho sale of certain lands in Otago, he wondered why tho same courso should not bo adopted now. Tho Government may havo considered the introduction of tho proposed bill to be tantamount to a voto of want of confidenco, and if the Government permitted it they would virtually admit having committed wrong, although it was said tho block of land referred to had been open fof sale for sovoral years, and that the purchaso of tho same, and tho formation of a road to it had been of very great benefit to Iho district.

Messrs Gibbs and Pyko thought tho motion necessarily involved a voto of want of confidence.

Mr W. Kelly said tho land referred to was only third class._ f J here was plenty more of tho samo kind which ho would be glad to see given away to enterprising companies to utilise. Much, as had been said about tho value of this swamp land, he believed it not improbable that the purchasers would lose £100,000 ovor it. Ho would voto against tho introduction of the bill.

Sir George Grey replied.- He said if tho Government had complied with the resolution of the legislative Council, that confiscated laud should coase to bo sold under Orders in Council, this motion would not. havo been introduced, He bad been shocked to hear tlio Native Minister say they intended to lcgaliso an illegal act by an Order in tho Council. His objeefc would be obtained if the Government gavo him an assuranco that tlioy would take no steps to legalise tho sale until duo inquiry into circumstances had been made.

Mr,Bowen said tho Government wero prepared to state what they intended to do, but not'uutil tho pvescut motion was disposed of. Sir Georgo Grey continued; He had never contemplated hi 3 motion as ouo of want of confidence, and had not consulted any of his party, and if ho was forced to a division he should loave tho House.

A division was.called for, when Sir Georgo Grey and nearly all tho Opposition walked out. Tho result was-Ayes, 3; noes, 42,

Tho following is tho division list:— Noes: Andrew, Bluett, Swanson, Ayes: Atkinson, Ballance, Bowen, J, C. Brown, Bryce, Buckland, Oarringtoa, Creighton, Curtis, Gibbs, Inglis, Jackson, Johnston, Kateno. W, Kelly, T. Kelly, Kenny, Luckie, May, McQillivray, McGlashan, McLean, Mervyn,- Monro, Ormond, Parata, Parker, Pearce, Pyko, Kcyno'.ds, Eichardson, Richmond, J. Shephard, T. L. Shepherd, Stafford, Steward, Tribe, Wales, Webb, Williams, Wilson. Absent mombers: Bradshaw, J. E. Browu, Cutliberlson, O'Neill, Wakefield.

Sir Donald McLean then announced that the Government would movo for a select committee to enquiro into tho whole matter. In tho meantime no Order in Council in reference thereto would bo issued. ABOMTIOH DEBATE. Tho Abolition debate was resumed by Mr.f, L, Shepherd in support of tho bill. He considered that provincial institutions wero now quite useless. They were all very well in tho eorly days, when the means of communication were vory difficult, But now with steamers and telegraphs, tho country could bo easily and muchmoroeconomically governed from one centre. He thought the outlying districts would faro much better when Provincial Governments were abolished. He was sorry Sir Georgo Grey should allow tho Opposition members totako advantage of his" honest simplicity" by making use of his name and prestige, for it was not under the banner of Provincialism they ranged themselves, but rather their cry was they wero led by Sir Georgo Grey. Ho believed the gold duty would have been abolished long ago but for ProI vincial Governments, because it was provincial revenue; but when tho provinces aro abolished, and the duty goes to the consolidated revenue, the question would be treated as ono of policy, without reference to provinces; and it would then be found that gold mining was an industry to bo encouraged, and not exceptionally taxed, Mr Shepherd spoke for about an hour, to a very thin house.

Mr Brandon spoke in favour of PrO' vincial institutions.

( Major Jackson would vote for the bill in all its stages, and endeavour to get it passed this session.

On tho motion of Mr Eolleston, the debate was adjourned. : (FBOJI A COBEESPONDENT.) I _ Wellington, Saturday. : The Opposition admit that they made amistake in not moving for a committee of inquiry about Iho confiscated lands. They tried to avoid a division, but tho Government supporters forcrd one on, and tho Opposition walked out. to avoid showing their weakness. MrUolleston is to resume the Abolition debate on Tuesday, and will probably bo followed by Mr Hichardson. Government declare they will press measures through this session. . Mr Watcrhouse is expected hero in n few days, then attack will

probably be mado upon Government re loan transactions.

Nothing further is likely to be done in transferring the Auckland polico to Provincial control at present;