Parliamentary Notes.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 7 August 1885, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, tile debate on the Native Lauds Disposi- ► Uou Biil w-us resumed. The measure was vigorously attacked aud condemned by Uie aMiajotity ot :ho=e members wno spoke. It contended iu.it the L;il contained the vicious pimeipic that the majority could dispose ot the lands of the minority ; that it wuilu net stop land smaking, uni that it would set up a ,-v-tem of Maori landlordism, because the natives were encouraged under the measure to lease rather tiian sell their lands. An opinion was also expressed that the great bulk of tie land lying idle in the North Island should be settled, and toe only way to do that was to induce tha natives to seif. It was urged that the natives should be compelled to individualise their titles and that lucre should be C, nils sitting for th.it purpose at different pruts of the Eland. Mr i’y.ke made a trend ant attack upon tue Dill, in tne i--n;se c ( which he said “ The Native iiini-ter treated the Maoris u= eh.ldren —pelted th.ui - u.steal of treating them as sensible men. For they wore- reosib.c—very much too sensible for the Mmtstoi—and they got a great deal the best cf him up North. If ever a condenuiati, nol a Goverm.i-nt was writteu, it was written iu the reports of ti.e Minister’s tour and statements. When Mr Ilryce proposed his scheme to deal with To Wi.iti, he (Mr Pyke) oppose! iiiiaili.tt it. no tVhii ;Oiiy iu sit*, in a har-h manner. He t.M; back now every w rd i.e had =mi. Mr Liryce had saved the country fr..m rebelii jo. His successor, with an e.i-y p .to HlLte him, had incited the n.ttiv. - to frustrate the- views of Parliament. - ’ Uttiuute.y the debate on ti.e Diii was adjourned. The next business dealt with was the proposals with resectt to the East and West Coast Railway. Nil Julius Vogel moved, Tint a Select Committee be appointed to consider the cju iticu of tie construction of tne Ea-t and West Coast and Nelson Railway, ana to ....t.iocom:;teir.UvU‘.ni tot trdn.g ill-* s line, with power to call for persons and paters ; three to be a qnoreru ; to report iu tan days. Sir Julius made a plausible and peisnasive specdi in favor of the Government proposal, ior the construction cf the railway. Dir George- Grey denounced the scheme m terms of scuhing invective as Landing over the lands and mosey of the colony to a weulny contracting drm, Mr Sutton declared that the plants of the railway would not be suttleii-nt to p.y the cost ol grease for toe earing., v,i,,-e.: Iheu some fun fo.lowed Mr lake sa 1 1 the time had gone by when members Could be cajoled .or Lriec-d. The speaker called -Mr Pyke to order, and said ‘hat the expression *• bribed " must be withdrawn. Mr Pyke withdrew the word, and substituted for it ■ ■ induced." He asked who was to sham in the item “ underwriting ?" Mr Holmes said the hon gentleman was insinuating that the Government wcuM participate in what he had just called a bribe. Mr Pyke : Poca the boa gentleman sav that this is a bribe Because it he does that explains the whole question. (Laughter). Continuing, ho disapproved of “ tlo Meiges proposal.'’ The house last session knew perfectly well what the Government wanted, | and ■'fooled them to tho top oi their bent." He- was reminded of that passageiu " Burnaby Hudge wtieic- the old man said to his daughter, " Holly, my love, when you get m..tried, whatever you do, don't have a Miggs iu t.ie family.'’ (Laughter). Then Mr Pyke told :.u ugiV story ot how “ Meiges " went twder in California aud reappeared in Tas-

mania, andplaved some queer fina end tricks ttoder the new name of "Clark" So the debate went on until after midnight, when it was again adjourned and the House rose. THE EAST AND WEST COAST RAILWAY PROPOSALS, THE GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. THE NATIVE LANDS BILL PASSED SECOND READING. BILL TO BE REFERRED TO NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. In the House of Representatives on Wedn;sday, the debate on the East and West Coast Railway question was resumed. Ultimately, the Government, thinking they lud a majority, for the moment, of members i:i favor of the proposal to refer the subject >o a Select Committee, forced on a division. T.iey were, however, defeated, as the motion was rejected by 31 to 27 votes. The second reading of the Native Lands 'deposition Bill was carried, owing to the fan that the Government agreed that the Bi 1 should bo referred to the Native Affairs Committee. The Bill will be altered by that Committee. The House rose at 1.5 in the morning.