§ Sir G. Greymoved the second reading of the Western Australia Bill.
§ Mr. Hindleywould suggest to the hon. Baronet whether it was fit in the present state of Australia to continue till 1841, as this bill proposed to do, the powers which certain individuals—the commissioners—already had. He also thought the aborigines ought to be protected, and that a clause should be introduced by which a certain portion of land should be appropriated to native inhabitants. He threw out these suggestions to the hon. Baronet, and he hoped this bill would be so framed in Committee as to meet the cases to which he had adverted.
§ Sir George Greysaid, that measures had been taken for protecting the aborigines, which he hoped would prove satisfactory to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Humesaid, when this establishment was commenced, the House received a pledge, that no establishment should be charged on the consolidated fund; instead of which there would be a vote proposed in the course of a few days for 12,000l., whilst there were only 2,000 inhabitants. This was one means of robbing the people of England to keep up an establishment. There was no necessity for a governor and all the other paraphernalia which 295 were found here. It appeared to him, that the Colonial Department got money a great deal too easy. Here was a grant of money as large as could be required for a colony of 60,000, or 70,000 persons. He had no doubt the hon. Gentleman at the head of this Department found the office as it now was, but if he dealt fairly with the people of England, he would make the parties in the colony contribute to their own expense, instead of which the colony consisted of persons supported principally at the public expense.
§ Bill read a second time.