PACIFIC ISLANDS ANNEXATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, I-05

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1883. NEW ZEALAND.

PACIFIC ISLANDS ANNEXATION COMMITTEE (REPORT OF), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Brought up 17th July, 1883, and ordered to be printed.

OBDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 3bd Day op July, 1883. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the following resolution: That this House approves of the steps taken by the Government, in conjunction with other of the Australasian Colonies, to promote the establishment of British rule in certain islands of the Pacific. That this House undertakes, for its part, to give effect to any assurance that may he required by the Imperial Government that this colony will, in common with the other Colonies of Australasia, bear a fair share of the necessary expenses. The Committee to consist of Sir G. Grey, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams, Mr. Larnach, and the mover. Three to be a quorum ; to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report in a fortnight."— (Hon. Major Atkinson.)

Wednesday, the 4th Day of July, 1883. Ordered, " That tlio Confederation and Annexation Bill bo referred to the Pacific Islands Annexation Committee.

EEPOET. The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the question of the Pacific Islands annexation have the honour to recommend the House to approve of the steps taken up to this time by the Government, in conjunction with other of the Australian Colonies, to promote the establishment of British rule in certain islands in the Pacific, and consider that it is the duty of the British Government, under existing circumstances, to take steps for the establishment of its rule over all islands in the Pacific which are not already occupied by or under the protectorate of a Foreign Power; and that, on annexation of any island taking place, care should be taken that provision be made for preserving the individual rights of the inhabitants; also that, in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the, Pacific, it is hereby recommended that New Zealand, jointly with the Colonies of Australia, should contribute its fair proportion of necessary expense, calculated on the basis of European populations of the British colonies now comprised in Australasia, provided that the amount of s~uch proportionate expenditure, when ascertained, does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand. The Committee have also the honour to recommend that the Confederation and Annexation Bill, with the amendment proposed by the Committee, be passed by the House, and that the papers named in the Schedule laid by the Colonial Treasurer before the Committee, relating to the annexation of islands in the Pacific, together with such other papers relating to the subject as Government can supply, be printed for the information of Parliament. G. Gbby, 17th July, 1883. Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Thubsday, sth July, 1883. 'The Committee met at 11.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. The order of reference was read. Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Sir G. Grey, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, and Mr. Wynn-Williams. On the motion of Hon. Major Atkinson, Besohed, That Sir George Grey take the chair. On the lHotion of Mr. Macandrew, Besohed, That copies of all communications relating to the establishment of British rule & certain islands of the Pacific, which have passed between the New Zealand Government and the Governments of the Australian Colonies, and the Agent-General for New Zealand, be laid before this Committee. On the motion of Mr. Peacock, Besohed, That the Committee do adjourn till 11 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, the 6th July. The Committee then adjourned.

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Friday, 6th July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Sir G-. Grey (Chairman), Mr. Larnach, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On the motion of Mr. Peacock, Besolved, That, with reference to the first resolution upon which the Committee is appointed to consider and report, the Committee recommends the House to approve of the steps taken up to this time by the Government in conjunction with other of the Australian Colonies to promote the establishment of British rule in certain islands of the Pacific. The Committee then adjourned till Wednesday, the 11th July, at 11 o'clock.

Wednesday, 11th July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Sir G. Grey (Chairman), Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On the motion of Mr. Wynn Williams, seconded by Mr. Macandrew, That it is the duty of the British Government, under existing circumstances, to take steps for the establishment of its rule over all islands in the Pacific which are not already occupied by or under the protectorate of a Foreign Power. On the motion of Sir G. Grey, seconded by Mr. Montgomery, as an amendment, That the words " with the consent of the inhabitants thereof" be inserted after the words "in the Pacific." On the motion of Mr. Wynn-Williams, seconded by the Hon. Major Atkinson, as an amendment, That the words " That, on annexation of any island taking place, care should be taken that provision be made for preserving the individual rights of the inhabitants," be added to the original motion. Upon the question being put, " That the words ' with the consent of the inhabitants thereof' be added to the original motion," the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, I.—Mr. Montgomery. Noes, 4. —Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Williams. So it passed in the negative. Upon the question being put, "That the words ' That, on annexation of any island taking place, care should be taken that provision be made for preserving the individual rights of the inhabitants,' be added to the original motion," it was resolved in the affirmative. Upon the question being put, " That the original motion as amended be agreed to," it was resolved in the affirmative. Besolved, That the Committee do adjourn till 11 a.m. on Friday, the 13th July, 1883.

Fbiday, 13th July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Sir G. Grey (Chairman), Mr. Larnach, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Macandrew gave notice that, at the next meeting of the Committee, he would move, That the Committee is of opinion that, in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of British authority being established in those islands that the Australian Colonies should jointly contribute towards the expense of such establishment, New Zealand should decline to acquiesce in any such condition, but should rather take upon itself exclusively a proportion of such expense as may be necessary towards the establishment of such rule within the Fiji group : Provided that the amount of such proportionate expenditure, when ascertained, does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand. Mr. Larnach gave notice that, at the next meeting of the Committee, he would move, as an amendment to the foregoing motion, That all the words after the word "That " be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the following words in lieu thereof: "in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the Pacific, it ia hereby recommended that New Zealand, jointly with the Colonies of Australia, will contribute its fair proportion of necessary expense, on the basis of European populations of other British Colonies now comprised in Australasia." Besolved, That a copy of the motion and amendment be sent to each member of the Committee. Besolved, That the Committee do adjourn till 11 a.m. on Monday, the 16th July.

Monday, 16th July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Sir George Grey (Chairman-), Mr. Larnach, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On the me'tibn of the Chairman, Besolved, That all the words after the word "but," in the fifth line of Mr. Macandrew's motion, be struck out.—Agreed to. Moved by Mr. Macandrew, That the motion as amended, namely, That, in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of British authority being established in those

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islands that the Australian Colonies should jointly contribute towards the expense of such establishment, New Zealand should decline to acquiesce in any such condition, be agreed to, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows: — Ayes, 2. —Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery. Noes, 4.—Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. So it passed in the negative. Proposed by Mr. Larnach, That, in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the Pacific, it is hereby recommended that New Zealand, jointly with the Colonies of Australia, will contribute its fair proportion of necessary expense, on the basis of European populations of other British Colonies now comprised in Australasia. Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word " will," in the third line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " should " in lieu thereof, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows :—- Ayes, 4. —Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. Noes, 2.-—Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery. So it w Tas resolved in the affirmative. Moved by Mr. Wynn-Williams, That the, word " calculated" be inserted after the word " expense," in the fourth line.—Agreed to. Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word "other," in the fourth line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " the " in lieu thereof.—Agreed to. Moved by Sir G. Grey, That the words " Provided that the amount of such proportionate expenditure, when ascertained, does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand," included in Mr. Macandrew's motion, be added to Mr. Larnach's amendment.—Agreed to. The amendment as amended was then agreed to. The Confederation and Annexation Bill was then considered. Clause I.—Agreed to. Clause 2. —Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word "Government," in the first line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " Parliament " in lieu thereof, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows:— Ayes, s.—Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, Mr. WynnWilliams. Noes, I.—Mr. Larnach. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Clause 3.—Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Macandrew, Besolved, That the Committee recommends that the Confederation and Annexation Bill be passed by the House, with the amendment in the first line of the second clause of the word " Parliament " in lieu of the word " Government." On the motion of the Chairman, That the papers named in the schedule laid by the Colonial Treasurer before the Committee, relating to the annexation of islands in the Pacific, together with such other papers relating to the subject as Government can supply, be printed for the information of Parliament.—Agreed to. Besolved, That the Chairman report the foregoing resolutions to the House.

By Authority: Geob&e Didsbukt, Government Printer, Wellington. —1883.