HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5642, 11 June 1886, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tiiursdat, June 10. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2 SO. TUB VO LOAN 10 EBUPTIONS. Tho Hon Sir R. Stout read a number of telegrams with reference to the earthquakes and eruptions at 'Rotorua. The latest telegram from Tauranga was to the effect that there were no eruptions, that the atmosphere waa clearing, and that there was no distress. People at Tauranga, he said, had asked Government whether it wan safe for them to remain there, and after consultation with Dr Hector (who considered it was quite Bafe), he (Sir Robert Stout) had despatched a telegram to that effect. He had also sent instructions to the police inspectors, to give any assistance that might be required to people who might be in distress, through the eruptions. It was further decided to 1 despatch the Hinemoa that afternoon, to ! report upon the matter, and to render any assistance that might be required. QUESTIONS. ICr Johnston asked Government i£, lo further encourage the manuf aoture of Hew Zealand Flax into fibre for export, they win offer a bonus of .£2OOO, such bonus to be payable to the person who shall be the first within twelve months from the present time, to export (at a cost not exceeding JJI per ton on board ship) 50 tons of fibre of the value in the open market in London of not less than £30 per ton. The Hon Sir R. Stout said the matter would receive consideration. Mr W. D. Stbttabt asked Government whether they were aware that certain agents of the Government Life Assurance Department (Industrial Branoh) have induced many persons in poor circumstances, in Otago, to surrender their policies, by representing that no more premiums could be received, as such branch did not pay, and Government had decided to close it; and whether Government will cause steps to be taken by whioh each policies will be revived. The Hon Sir J. Voqel said he had oaken pains to obtain the information required. The Board had decided to close the industrial branch, and instructions had been given that no fresh business of this kind should be taken. Those who desired to continue their policies could do so, and to those wiUing to transfer •their policies reasonable terms were offered. Major Atkinson asked when the Publio Works Statement would be delivered. The Hon Sir R. Srorr said about the end of next week. He said there were several accounts which were only got up this week, and this had occasioned the del*y. NEW BILLS. Several Bills were introduced. ' BILLS EASBHB. The House went into Committee am the City of Dunedin Leasing Bill, and this and the Few Plymouth Recreation Reserve Bill, which passed through Committee, were read a third time and passed. 6ECON» RHADINOS. Mr JonrsTON moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbour Board Leasing Bill, the object of which waa to extend leasing powers to the Wellington Harbour Board. Agreed to. ' Mr Gobe moved the second reading of tho Otago Harbonr Boanl Leasiag Bill. Agreed te. Mr White (Auokland) moved the second reading of the One Tree Hill Reserves Bill. He explained that he had brought the Bill in on behalf of the Speaker, but reserved his right to oppose it in Committee if he thought it desirable. Messrs Dabgaville, Thompson, and Hobbs opposed the Bill, but would consent to the second reading under the peculiar circumstances of the case. Agreed to. Mr Ross moved the second reading of the Borough of Mornington Boundaries Bill. Agreed to. Mr Moss moved tho second reading of th* Newmarket Reserves Amendment Bill. Agreed to. Mr Hatch resumed the interrupted debate on the question of appointing two practial experts as accountants to inquire into and report aa to possible saving in the Civil Service. He contended that Mr Brown had not taken proper steps to retrench in bringing this forward. The motion, on being pat, was lost on the voices. Mr M'Millan moved the second reading of the Dog Registration Act Amendment Bill, the object of which was to increase the dog-tax to JBl instead of 10a. Mftj or Atkinson supported the second reading of the Bill, but submitted that the time had now arrived when the Natives should be subjected to the same law in the matter of inspection as Europeans who owned worthless dogs. He pointed out that it was a great hardship on the West Coast, that these Maori dogs should be allowed t* wander about amongst the sheep of the settlers. Messrs Steward, Cowan, and Walker supported the Bill. Mr Hobbs strongly opposed it, and thought it monstrous. Mr Bucklahd protested against the inoreaso of the dog tax to JEI. After further discussion, in which Messrs Hatch, Sutter, and Hurst took part, the motion for the second reading was agreed to. Mr Downib Stbwabt moved the second reading of the Apportionment Bill. Agreed to. BBEACH OP PRIVILEGE. Mr W. F. Bvckland called attention to what he considered a breach of privilege. He said a telegram had been handed round the House, expressing sympathy with Mr Gladstone in the present crisis, and one member was being threatened in an unseemly manner for not consenting to sign it. The Speaker said if any member had been threatened he had his remedy by bringing the matter before the House. Mr Bwckland said he merely wished to mention the matter, but would make no motion. IK COMMITTEE. ! The House went into Committee on the Limitation of Votes Bill. In clause 2, providing that an elector shall not vote in more than two electorates, Mr Baeeon moved that "two" be struck out and " one " inserted. The amendment was carried by 34> to 25. The word " one " was then inserted. The debate was here interrupted, and the Hoase rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. LIMITATION OP VOTES BILL. The Limitation of Votes Bill was further considered in Committee. When the last clause was reached, Mr J. B. Whtte moved to report progress on the Bill. Tho motion was lost by 87 to 17. Mr Huesthouse moved — " That the penalty clause be altered, bo as to make the term of imprisonment one month instead of twelve." Agreed to on the voices. The Bill was reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Thursday, July 3. THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. Sir G. Gret moved—" That this House conours in the report of the Pacific Islands Committee." He said the report was a very simple one, but it involved a great principle, being a new departure in tho management of the islands of tho Pacific Ocean. Ho pointed out that, up to tho present time, New Zealand had stood aloof in the matter of annexation' of these islands. After referring at some length to the attitude adopted towards these islands by Great Britain, he said if Great Britain, Ger- ' many and France would combine to annex j these islands, and provide that tho islands ! should bo allowed to develop themselves, he caw a great possibility of peace and tranquillity prevailing throughout the Pacific Ocean. He thought all the Great Powers ehould unite in a project of this

kind. He felt certain Great Britain and ! the United States would do so, and that ' Germany and France would be glad to follow Great Britain in the matter. It seemed to him incredible that New Zealand, ! lying so close to these islands, with all the j advantages necessary to material wealth, ; could not secure all the commerce connected with the islands. If this Colony was not : allowed to do so, she deserved to lose all . the trade and commerce which would follow 1 from fhe scheme. He thought if the Houso would adopt the scheme he had 'pointed out, namely, a combination of the four Powera for the pnrpoeo of annexation of the i islands, great and lasting beaefit would result to the Colony. The Hon Sir B. Stout said he regretted he could not support the motion. The importance of the Pacific Islands had, he said, never yet been appreciated by the British statesmen. Had it not been so, we should not have been in the position we were in at the present time. They knew, for example, that New Caledonia, the Island of Pines and the I Loyalty' Island? could all have been j obtained by Great Britain, if she had | shown any desire to obtain them, which all showed that England had paid very little attention to the subject. France had, in fact, now all the main islands in the Western Pacific He might say that practically all the islands left were the New Hebrides group. As for the trade of these | islands, referred to by Sir G. Grey, ihe pointed out that moat of the ' trade was done by Germany and America, both of whioh received more than England. It was quite true that Sir G. Grey's resolution was entirely a new departure. ' The hon gentleman had in 1878 urged that Great Britain should annex the whole of I the Pacific Islands. He contended that i the substitute set up by Sir G. Grey would Ihe unworkable and impracticable. The j object sought to be obtained by the Colony ' had been to prevent European convicts j -from landing on the islands, and that the ; islands might be used as coaling stations in time of war. As to the resolution itself, he said it was a very ' vague one. Where was the Commission to sit f It was impossible for the Commission to sit in one place, and conduct the affairs of the islands. He would also ask what the functions of Commissioners were to be. The whole question of the Commission was, in fact, utterly unworkable. He submitted that the colonists were more entitled to a voice in the matter than either Great Britain or America. Waa it likely that any one of the Colonies would agree to the proposal that England was only to have one-fourth of a voice on the proposed Commission t How, also, were the different missions to be controlled under this mixed Commission F The mottoa, as it stood, simply meant that any nation outside England, France, Germany, or America could annex the islands. Besides, how were they to know whether the other nations would agree to it f He contended that Germany would never agree to the proposal. He said Government were anxious to keep the New Hebrides islands English, but they were practically told that the French must eventually have those islands, and it waa no use for this Colony to protest, seeing that the New Hebrides must go to France. ! Government had done their best to obtain i an equivalent for those islands, and had i it not been for the Presbyterian Church, Great Britain would have obtained a good return for the islands. Ho thought if this Colony wished to take any position in this matter, it must act on its own responsibility, and not be contented to be dictated ito by Victoria. He knew, moreover, that I this proposition for a united Commission would not be listened to in Victoria, or in faot any other Colony. He wished to see the Paoifio Islands prosper as well as Sir George &tej, but he also believed that ; none of these nations would rise to any | height unless they were aided by a civilised ■ nation to rise to a high moral standard. : He would not propose any amendment, but ihe would vote against the motion. If they | looked at the question from a practical j point of view, they would agree that a mixed Commission would be no settlement of the question at all. Sir J. Voqel deprecated the action taken by Major Atkinson over the telegram received from Victoria on the New Hebrides question. He said it was not adding to the dignity of the leader of the Opposition to allow himself to he instructed by Victoria on this subject. His opinion was tha^ New Zealand had a most potent influence at present, muoh greater than she would have were she qne of the Federal Colonies. He contended that had his (Sir J. Vogel's) . proposals been carried in 1874, the Colony | would have had a dominant position |at the present time. He said if those j resolutions were carried, they would cause I a great difficulty in the management of | those islands. A mixed Commiauon meant j that nothing could be done without the I consent of all the nations in it, and the [ questions wonld frequently have to be delayed for a considerable time, owing to the I composition of the Commission. He defended | the Hon Sir R. Stout* s action in writing to i the Presbyterian body on the question. i He contended the Premier could not have acted in any other manner. As matters stood now, the New Zealand Government had said they felt they could not give their voice for the annexation of the New Hebrides till the consent of those whose rights were affected had been obtained. He also thought it useles3 to pass the resolutions, whioh would have no effect, as he felt sure the other nations would not agree to them. Unless they were prepared to paes something practical, the House had better leave the position as it was at present, namely, that the Government was in accord with the House in their desire to preserve the best interests of the Colony. He hoped the resolutions would not be carried. Mr Montsohiet moved the adjournment of the debate. Agreed to. The House rose at 11.46.