detain the House long, because at the outset we are dealing with one subject, and that subject is pretty well understood by every member present, and all will, I think, agree with the Address it is proposed to present. I may have gone a little beyond the Address itself in dealing with the monetary considerations, but I have done so to show that New Zealand has nothing to lose, but a great deal to gain, by being represented as is proposed, and that we should thankfully accept the invitation and the suggestion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir, I move, That the Address in reply to the Opening Speech of His Excellency the Administrator of the Colony be agreed to. The Hon. Mr. W. KELLY.-Sir, I rise to second the adoption of the Address which has been moved by the honourable member who has just sat down, and in doing so I should just like to make a few remarks in regard to the contingent that it is proposed should be sent to the Old Country. I think, Sir, the House and country will be pleased if a contingent is sent Home. There is some talk that a contingent should not be sent; but I should like to see a contingent of the Native race sent, as well as of the permanent forces. During the troublesome times in this country I had the honour of acting in connection with the Natives of the country, and I can say that better forces were never met. I do not know what the position of this country would be at the present moment if we had not had the assistance of Natives to fight against their own flesh and blood. It is well known that there are Native tribes in this country who have always taken our part in the war, and I think the Parliament ought to decide upon sending some of those men who have hitherto done their duty as soldiers, and who have been most anxious to protect the Europeans. We have on the east coast of the North Island tribes that have done service that should never be forgotten. We have the Ngatapouri and the Arawa Tribes. I do not know whether it is or is not the intention of the Government to take from these tribes men for their contingent, but if it is done it should be done in such a way that the Natives who have hitherto stood by the Government in times when there was need of assistance should be sent Home if possible. Although there may be a few who would be against the expenditure of money for the purpose, I am sure the bulk of the people would be pleased; and I contend that, no matter what the expense may be, the colony should be represented in a manner that will do honour and credit to ourselves and to the Imperial Government. The invitation, I think, should be accepted in a loyal and hearty manner, as I hope it will be before the session closes. I hope that, whatever is done, some of our best Native young men will be sent Home, and I believe other nations will have an opportunity of seeing what the Native race of this country is like. I believe it will do good in many respects, and I, for one, am pleased to think it is the intention of the Government to send a contingent Home if possible, and if they can get Supply granted. I concur in what the honourable gentleman who has proposed the Address in Reply has said with regard to other matters, and shall content myself with simply seconding the Address in Reply. Motion made, and question proposed, "That the following Address in reply to the Opening Speech of His Excellency the Administrator of the Government be agreed to, namely,— "MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, "We, Her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Council of New Zealand, respectfully thank your Excellency for the Speech you have been pleased to deliver to both Houses of Parliament, and we cordially acquiesce in the reasons you have given for calling us together. "We are pleased to hear from your Excellency that invitations have been issued to all the dependencies of the Empire to be represented at the celebration in honour of the completion of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's prolonged and beneficent reign. "We assure your Excellency that any arrangements that would be necessary to enable the colony to be fittingly represented on that occasion will meet with our hearty approval and support, and we shall, as on many other occasions affecting the Throne, deem it our duty to adopt a respectful address to Her Majesty conveying our loyal congratulations in suitable terms. "We join with your Excellency in the assurance that His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow left New Zealand carrying with him the respect and esteem of the inhabitants of the colony; and we are confident that his successor, the Earl of Ranfurly, will be loyally and cordially welcomed as the representative of Her Majesty. "We trust, with your Excellency, that, with the blessing of God, the attendance of the leading colonial statesmen who have been invited to attend the celebration of the accomplishment of the sixtieth year of Her Majesty's reign, and take part in the discussion of subjects of interest to the Mother-country and her colonial possessions, will redound to the glory of the Empire and to the credit of the colonies."-(Hon. Mr. Pinkerton.) The Hon. Sir G. S. WHITMORE.-Sir, I have only to say, as on other occasions, that we owe a great deal to the honourable gentlemen who have proposed and seconded the Address. They have said nothing one can particularly object to, and they have in no way been guilty of raising elements of party discussion. Sir, with regard to the proposed arrangement, with the Hon. Mr. Pinkerton I have only to say that if we send Home our Premier, as is stated in the reply to the Address we have before us, I think we ought to do it in a handsome way. I do not think we ought to squabble about the details at all. I have only to say that I think the sending Home of these contingents of troops, as suggested by the Hon. Mr. Chamberlain, will be an object-lesson to the world. It will be the British Empire in a small area, but it will be the representation | occasion. I have this much more to say about of the manhood of a very wide Empire. It it: that the idea of making a discrimination does not mean a little army of 120,000 between the permanent and Volunteer force is men -or whatever it may be of regular foolish. We are asked to send Home-if troops, but it means the manhood of the honourable gentlemen read Mr. Chamberlain's Empirea manhood that I undertake to letter-some of our military force. A continsay is inferior to nothing of the kind in the gent means a small body, no doubt, and posworld, which may be absolutely relied upon in sibly some persons may say that being only a times of danger to defend the common interests few-some thirty or forty perhaps would not of England. Now, I have this much more to have any great effect. But it would have this say that I do not think it comes well for us, effect the effect produced by the presence of who in times not very remote, and which I can the Indian troops in Cyprus brought over by well remember, relied entirely upon the Native Mr. Disraeli-and show Europe that we are race, to forget our obligations to them. I feel, not depending entirely for the defence of the too, that if England is ever obliged to call on us Empire on our island army, but that we have for assistance we shall find that we can raise a very large force behind an army which troops among the Native population equal to would enthusiastically reply when called on any troops in the world, and that at the same for their services. I think if we send Home a time they will be much more easily and quickly decent specimen of what military force we obtained than possibly might be the case with have we shall be doing a great deal for New people who have to leave businesses and other Zealand. My honourable friend Mr. Swanson peaceful occupations. I know that on more than mentions that the Maoris offered their serone occasion the Maoris have offered their ser- vices in connection with the Crimean War. I vices willingly and enthusiastically to defend was not aware of that, but I am very glad to the general Empire. I remember, at the time mention it, to show the willingness the Maoris just before Lord Roberts had concluded his have always shown to fight for our common march in such a brilliant manner to Can- Empire. Under these circumstances, and dahar, it was proposed by my friend the late taking into account that there is no other Mr. Ballance to send a contingent of two thou- country in the world which has ever succeeded sand men. It was proposed to raise one-half in inspiring such a sentiment in a native race, Europeans and the other half Maoris, and it is very desirable that we should be able to it could have been done. There would have show by the presence of the Maoris that been no difficulty in raising the requisite these men, though dark in colour, have the number of Maoris. Directly it was known same idea of the Empire as we ourselves, and that the proposal was entertained we had I shall be very glad, therefore, if they applications from the Maoris in every part of are sent Home. Our permanent force would the country, and I believe they would have be a credit to any country. I have met given a very good account of themselves if they many old officers since I have been connected had gone there. Therefore I do not think it with them, and I know that is their opinion. I may be so useless as some persons think to have also heard that they are far better than send a contingent of Maoris, who may be any other permanent force in the Australian probably the descendants of those who fought Colonies, and I believe they are almost entirely so well for us in the past, and who would be composed of New-Zealand-born boys. I think absolutely reliable if necessity arose in the it would be a very foolish thing to leave them future, and who would probably form one of out. As regards the mounted Volunteers wethe most interesting exhibitions in the cele- are sending Home, I can only bear this in brations. Among those selected to go I hope mind: Not very long ago there was a compethere may be some who have taken part, in tition in England in which a large number of one way or another, in the defence of this Victorian mounted infantry took part, and, colony; but if there are none alive the thing there is no question about it, their display was remains the same-they are the same people so satisfactory in England that even in the and have the same willingness to fight for tent-pegging competition, which is not a kind the Crown. And here I should like to say of thing they had much experience in, they that among the nations of the world who have showed up very well indeed-even with our attempted to govern native races there has very best Home troops; and there was no been no nation except our own in which the newspaper, in commenting on the appearance example has occurred of an aboriginal race so of the Victorian mounted infantry, that did absolutely weaned from its old ideas and not acknowledge that they were quite equal to which has become so absolutely British in them. I am therefore glad to know that our heart as the Maoris. Therefore I think we mounted men are to be sent Home. The main shall not be departing in any way from common- thing is this: The Government, on their own sense in sending Home these people, although responsibility, recommended us to do this, and they may not have been part of the actual force I cannot help thinking that if Parliament which took part in the defence of the colony. approves we should not make two bites of a The celebration has happily fallen in times in cherry, but that we should do the thing with a which wars with the Native race are long past, good grace and handsomely. and they have been succeeded by a friendship for the common Empire which it is very desirable to have proved by their presence on this The Hon. Mr. ORMOND.-I think this is almost the only opportunity there will be of saying anything one has to say as to the neces- sity of this session being called; but, before I address myself to that part of the subject, I wish to congratulate the new members of the Council who have pleasantly and satisfactorily performed the duties of moving and seconding the Address. We all know it is a difficult matter, and we must thank them for the very nice and pleasant and satisfactory manner in which they have performed it. I should like also to say that I entirely concur with the Hon. Mr. Kelly in the recommendation he made to the Government that if a contingent of Native people goes Home, consideration should be given to those, or the representatives of those, who have rendered service to the colony in the past. That ought to be one of the main things in the mind of the Government on this subject. Having said that, I also wish to say this: I bow to no one in the desire to join in the wish that the Premier should visit England, and that we should accredit him to represent us. That is necessary after the invitation which came from the Secretary of State, and we should do everything to assist him in going. Following this, I regret that I think it my duty to say that I consider this session absolutely unnecessary, and that it ought not to have been called, or the country put to the expense of holding it for the purpose for which it is being held. I shall give the reasons I have for that opinion. Some weeks ago, during the presence of the Premier in another colony, we all, in common with the members of the other branch of the Legislature, received a communication from the gentleman then conducting the Government, asking us whether we agreed to the proposal that the Premier should visit England and represent the colony. I think that was a most proper proceeding on the part of the Government to consult members of the Legislature on the position-and it is satisfactory to know, as we do, that the answers were, I believe, unanimous in expressing a desire that he should go to England, and should there, as Premier, represent the colony. I took that course, in common with other members of both branches of the Legislature; but in my reply I gave the same views which I now wish to expressthat that going ought not to interfere with the public business of the colony, and ought not to interfere with the business of Parliament. I hold that view strongly, and I think it right to express it here to-day; and, holding that view, I think there was no necessity to call this session out of its proper course for the purpose of granting supplies which ought not to have been wanted, because, if Parliament had been called at its proper time, these supplies would have been forthcoming. I think members of the Legislature did all that was necessary when in their replies they agreed cordially to the proposal that the Premier should accept the invitation of the Home Government; and upon that the Premier ought to have accepted that invitation, and the Legislature ought not to be in the position in which we are now-meeting here for the purposes of a useless session. Sir, that is one part of the position. Now, one of the matters that I wish to urge is this: that this matter is establishing an entirely new pre. cedent, and a precedent contrary to the precedents which exist prior to this occasion. There have been occasions in the history of the colony when the Prime Minister has had to visit England and be absent during the sessions of Parliament. I know of two such occasions in the time I have been in Parliament: One was during Sir Julius Vogel's time, when he left the colony, and went to England, leaving his colleagues to carry on the ordinary business of the colony, and the ordinary business of Parliament. My late lamented friend Sir Donald McLean filled the position as head of the Government during his absence. Another case was that of Mr. Stafford, when he went to England on public business and his colleagues carried on the public business; and Mr. Richmond, I think, represented him as the head of the Government. So that, Sir, we have had in this colony instances where the Premier has had to go Home on matters of public business, but it has not been thought necessary that Parliament should cease its duties in the examination into the public affairs because the Premier is absent; and I urge that this ought to have been the course pursued on this occasion. I do not wish to say anything disrespectful to the Government, or the colleagues of the Premier, but the inference undoubtedly must be that this Premier does not care to leave the conduct of business in the hands of his colleagues, and I say, if that is so, it is an unfortunate position for the colony to be in, and one in which the colony ought not to be placed. The Government of the colony ought not to be always dependent on the services of one man; and Parliament, still more, ought not to be dependent on the services of any one man, whether he is the Premier of the colony or not. Holding that view, I think it is matter for regret that this session is now going on, and the business of Parliament will not be proceeded with in the ordinary course. I think it right in urging this view to give some further reasons. Now, we are just out of the throes of a general election, and it is not incorrect to say-it is not exaggerating in any sense to say-that a very large section of the people of the colony have, by their election of a very large increase to the members of the Opposition, expressed the opinion that there are many grave matters that require remedy, require inquiry, and require amendment. Now, Sir, if that be so, I say that Parliament ought not to be asked to proceed out of its ordinary course, and to postpone these inquiries to a distant time. Sir, there are many matters of importance which require the attention of Parliament, and I unhesitatingly express the opinion that any session which will begin at the end of September, and which will occupy the summer monthsOctober, November, and December-will not be able to give that attention to public affairs which ought to be given to such subjects. I say unhesitatingly that is the experience of the past, and all honourable members who have taken part in the business of the colony know that that is so. And, Sir, it is also a great miers of the other colonies to represent us on wrong, in my opinion, to what is called the country interests of the colony, because their representatives would incur great loss, and be called upon to make a great sacrifice, by giving up the months I have named to duties which, it is understood, will be carried out at a more convenient season to them; and the consequence will be that the many large questions The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND.-He speaks of it which the public has a right to think were about as a guard of honour to the Premier. The Hon. to be inquired into will be postponed,-most Sir George Whitmore says it would be a great inconveniently postponed, and practically object-lesson to foreign nations. I do not there will be no proper inquiry for a very long know which of the foreign nations it is inperiod to come, because they will not meet tended to or will intimidate. Foreign nations. with that proper and exhaustive inquiry which will have the sense to see at once that here, as I think they ought to have, and which they in every country, there are numbers of idle would have if the session were to come in its people who are only too glad of the chance of proper place. I think these are grave reasons getting a pleasure-trip at the public expense. why we ought to regard it as matter for regret That was seen in the case of New South Wales that the session has been called at this time. when the celebrated Soudan contingent was It would have been quite easy for the Premier raised. I consider that was an act of splendid to have left, on the assurances which he re- folly. It tended to the glorification of one ceived from honourable members, to which I man, an impudent Irish adventurer named have referred already, on his visit to England, Dalley, who got the whole thing up. Of for Parliament to have been called at the usual course, he knew the colony would condone it. time at the end of June, for Parliament to He knew the weakness the colonists have have proceeded during his absence, for such for display, and for blowing, and all that sort public matters as his colleagues thought most of thing. Sir, when I was last in London, convenient to submit to Parliament to have and went to St. Paul's Cathedral to see the been brought up for consideration-and there graves of Dr. Johnson and other truly great are heaps of such questions which cannot be men of mind, what was my astonishment to deemed to require the presence of the Premier. see a marble tablet to the memory of the Right One might go on for half an hour naming such Hon. Mr. Dalley, as if he was one of the great subjects. There is the question of the police. men of the Empire-one of the great names to From one end of the colony to the other there be held in respect to all eternity. If any conis the feeling that the condition of that depart- tingent is to go Home I do not see why it ment requires most careful inquiry into; and should be representative of brute force only. it cannot possibly be said that this ques- Why should thews and sinews only be repretion could not be inquired into during the sented? Why should not brain be represented absence of the Premier. There are matters too? Now, we have a great many men in this pertaining also to the interests of settlers-the colony of brains-smart men-I defy New frozen-meat question, and heaps of questions York to produce smarter men. Why should of large importance to the general population, there not be representatives of the banking because the wealth of the country depends fraternity? Why should not the ex-directors largely upon them. All these matters will be of the Bank of New Zealand, and of another postponed, and will not be dealt with for more bank I could name, and also those of the Loan than twelve months, and I say that all this and Mercantile Agency Company-why should is matter for which the colony will suffer, and not they be sent? Only fancy the march past for which it ought not to suffer. I do not know the Queen of these gentlemen, "two and two, that I desire to say anything more. I could Newgate fashion," as Shakespeare has it, to not allow the opportunity to pass without ex- the inspiring strains of that fine old composipressing my views on this question, and Ition known as the "Rogues' March." I think firmly believe that this view will be held very that would have a thrilling effect. largely by the people of the colony when they America is to be congratulated on never come to think the matter over, and there will having given in to these puerilities in the be very great regret that Parliament is not to way this colony does. Had she done so there perform its proper functions at the proper time. would have been no Lexington, no Concord, Sir, we know the branch of the Legislature no Bunker's Hill, no Saratoga. What would which is responsible mainly for what is to be there have been for men like Washington, the outcome of the present session; it is the Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson to do, but to sit other branch of the Legislature which will vote quietly at home and speculate as to which outsupplies for carrying on the public service, and at-elbows member of an effete aristocracy was so concur in the postponement of the business likely to be sent out to America to govern of Parliament. I cannot conceive from my them? That is what would have been left for point of view that those gentlemen will be those great men to do. I am afraid at the doing what is best in the interests of the rate we are going we shall not stop short at colony in so allowing the public business to be an aristocratic Governor. He will not be good postponed. enough for us. Soon we shall send a whining petition Home to the Mother-country beseeching that some guinea-pig-faced German prince and The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND.-I quite approve of the Premier going to England with the Pre I think princess should be sent out to hold a mimic court for the delectation of the nouveaux riches of Wellington and other towns of the colony. If we only get that, no doubt we should have an hereditary aristocracy before long, and a State church, and then we should be thoroughly English, and thoroughly happy; and we should pay the taxes to defray the expense of these luxuries like men, and sing "Rule Britannia " and "God save the Queen," and thank God we are not as other people are. The Hon. Mr. KERR.-I should like to say a word or two, Mr. Speaker. I quite approve of the Address in Reply, and I think the member who has moved the Address, and its seconder, should be complimented on the clear and concise manner in which they have proposed it. I am fully impressed with the idea of the Premier going Home. I think that by sending the Premier Home we will show our love and loyalty to Her Most Gracious Majesty. I am not at all impressed with the idea of sending a contingent, although I feel with other members that when the other colonies are sending contingents we ought to do so also; that we ought to show that, although our numbers are few, we have thousands in New Zealand who would shoulder arms on behalf of the Empire. Sir George Whitmore said that the Maoris ought to go Home, as they would be an interesting exhibition. Well, I believe he is quite right there. They would be an interesting exhibition. I believe a military contingent should go Home to accompany the Premier; but I do not approve of anything else. The Hon. Mr. Scotland, I think, has been burlesquing the affair. He has made himself funny in this Assembly to-day; he has been sarcastic, satirical, and I cannot tell what else. If we have any love and loyalty in our breasts towards our Most Gracious Sovereign, let us do like the other colonies, and show our appreciation and respect for one who has ruled over us for sixty years to the credit of the world. Every member here ought to be impressed with the idea of sending the Premier and a contingent Home to show our love and loyalty to the Queen, who has been a pattern in every respect to the world at large. The Hon. Mr. SWANSON.-Sir, I did not intend to say anything, but I certainly cannot quietly stand the remarks that have been made by the last speaker regarding the Maoris. The Ngapuhi Tribe and others have time after time fought for the Europeans, and the Queen has presented swords to some of them for fighting in her cause. When Hone Heke threatened to come to Auckland and clear us all out, Tama te Waka and his Ngapuhis said " No," and Heke found something else to do at home. There are plenty of Maoris who have assisted, and assisted us honestly and loyally, and I object to hear them talked about in that style. The Hon. Dr. GRACE.-My honourable friend Mr. Kerr, who has just sat down, was pleased to state that the Maoris, if seen in London, would bear their testimony to the fact that they were a race who had been beaten by the Anglo-Saxons, and had come to confess their inferiority. Sir, they were never beaten by the Anglo-Saxons. The reason that we have secured from the Maoris and for the Maoris an undying allegiance to the Empire is because the Maoris proved themselves just as good men as we were. It is because, as races, we stand level on the common platform of esteem and self-respect; it is because each race recognises in the other a race of brave men, both unbeaten. Sir, it pleased our fancy. to declare a treaty of peace with the Maoris. Did the Maoris ever acknowledge that treaty? Did they come in and lay down their arms? Did they ever plead for pardon? No, Sir. With the very superior intelligence of the Native race, they saw that in the course of time it was quite possible they might not occupy such an advantageous position as they did when by common consent the war died out. It amounts to this: that there was a common intelligent agreement between the two races that the time had come to stop fighting and to shake hands, and agree to forget racial differences. So if there is any reason why the Maoris should go Home and be seen in this grand pageant, it is that all the world should know that there exists a native race of such intellectual, moral, and physical greatness that we, with all our civilisation, all our appliances and vast panoply of war, were unable to conquer. This is the reason why the Maoris, recognising in us not conquerors but equals, are anxious at any time to join us against a common enemy, as they have on equal terins participated with us in the advantages of our freedom and civilisation. The Hon. Mr. SHRIMSKI-I was sorry to hear the remarks of the Hon. Mr. Kerr. From my experience in the colony, extending over about forty years, I have heard and read something about the Natives, and I can only say they are a wonderful race. They, a handful of people, fought against our trained soldiers, in every instance with wonderful skill. From what I have seen since I have had the honour of sitting in either branch of the Legislature I have found them very intelligent and very able men, who have always shown themselves loyal to their friends and to the Crown. When we speak about nations being subdued, and the English and Irish, have they not been subdued? Are there not other nations which have not been subdued? Why make any difference between the natives of this colony and others? A more able or more intelligent body of men I never came across. I have seen a good many aboriginal natives of the other Australasian Colonies, and they cannot be compared to the New Zealand Natives. They are a noble race, and I think it would be a shame if they are to be prevented from going Home to show that they are a credit to this colony and themselves. I yield to none in loyalty for Her Majesty the Queen; and I shall be only too pleased that a body of men should go Homefrom this colony, to show the foreign nations that we have a body of people in this colony who, should occasion arise, will be prepared to fight for and defend the Crown. The Hon. W. DOWNIE STEWART.-The |