AFTERNOON SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4749, 20 July 1883, Page 4

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.80 p.m. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr H. Thomson, tho &on W. BOMESTON uaid Government did intend offering a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield in Canterbury, but under certain conditions. Replying to Mr Hutchwon, tho Hon T. Dice said a lecturer had been appointed on tho ohoeae and dairy faotories question, at a salary of £200 per annum. PACIFIC ANNEXATION.

Major Atkinson moved — "That tbis House concurs in the recommendation contained,in the report of the Paoifio Islands Annexation Oammittae, presented to this Hous9 on July 17." Complications might arise in connection with the islands, unless Bteps in this direction wore taken. He re grotted that tho Imperial Government should have aakfd »hem to contribute to the expense, but auoh. having been asked, it was wise in their own interests to aoquiesee. Mr Montsombby said that these islands were already thickly populated, therefore to speak of colonising them was a misnomer. In some of the islands the climate was most unhealthy. If it wai in the interest of humanity tbis was proposed, he questioned if their civilisation would do muoh to improve tfee Natives. Financially speaking he thought it would not be a succeis. What they wero OBked to do waß to go blindly into an expense, the extent of which they did not know. They should not go ioto any expense until at least they knew what that expense would be. They hud not as a Colony any spare money after providing for their own wants. In time of war these outlying dopendeßcies would beoome a source of weakness. He did not approye of British rule and British rum being forced on people who did not ask for it. Mr Holmbb designated it as a sentimental motion. They did not go into those islands for the purpose of establishing their civilisation. What was meant was to sweep the Natives off the face of the earth. It was a sham to say that they took possession of the islands in the interests of the inhabitanti. They would take suoh possession in their own interest, and the question then aroße, would this pay ? Moat of the trade would be done with the Australian Colonies. England might now- be on the eve of a wa? with Franoe, and it was impossible to guess what the expense might be if we became liable to bear a share of the soheme. If the Treasurer had placed a limit on the expenditure they might have known what they were committing themaelves to. He would move, as an addition to the motion, the following as an amendment—" Excepting in bo for ts it involves the expenditure of money on the part of this Colony." Mr Shbphabd denied the proposition laid down by Mr Montgomery that in civilisation the blaoks must disappear before the superior race. India and South America were quoted as an instance ia point to disprove this. Mr MAOAHDBBW agreed with the amendment although he disagreed with tho arguments by which it was supported. He held that it was tho duty of the British Government to annex the wholo of these islands. The most this Colony oauld do in the matter of money was to provide for its own wants. It was the duty of the British Qovemment to find the money for annexation.

Mr Moss denied that the labour traffic was a species of slavery. From personal experience be desoribed its conditions. Ihe labourers had no access to liquor of any kind during their term* of engagement, and they acquired nn>ny kinds of useful knowledge they never knew before. Mr Munbo supported the motion, com* menting on the commercial advantages it would secure to New Zealand if the Customs laws were suitably considered. Ihe debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.