§ The Earl of Devonthen rose for the purpose of moving the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the present state of the Islands of New Zealand, and the expediency of regulating the settlements of the British subjects therein. He believed, there would be no opposition offered to his Motion, and he should not, therefore, trouble the House by going at length into the subject, but would content himself by saying, that his object was, in his opinion, a most desirable one, namely, to ascertain the state of the population of the islands in question.
§ The Duke of Richmondbegged to ask the noble Earl whether there had not been a private company, a species of joint-stock company, established with reference to the colonization of those islands?
§ The Earl of Devonsaid, that there certainly was nothing like a joint-stock com- 153 pany in existence with reference to those islands.
§ The Duke of Richmondwas of opinion, that a Motion for a Committee ought not to be granted, unless it was established, that the object in view was one which was desirable for the interests of the community at large; and he thought, that no such Committee should be appointed, merely for the purpose of ascertaining how far a private company, already established, might go. He had heard it stated, that a number of gentlemen had assembled on those islands, and he thought, that it was not fit, that they, being uncertain to what extent they could proceed, should apply to Parliament, that a Committee should be appointed at the public expense, to ascertain the limits of their power.
§ The Earl of Devondeclared, that he would not have brought the subject under the notice of the House, if he was not acquainted with all the proceedings which bad taken place, and he could assure the noble Duke, if he would give him credit, that this was a subject well worthy the consideration of Parliament. He had taken the liberty of placing the name of the noble Duke on the list of the Committee he intended to propose, and if the noble Duke would take the trouble to give his attention to the subject, he was convinced that he would find it well worthy consideration. If he was required to go into the question now, he was prepared to do so; but he thought, that it would be unnecessary, when the whole of the circumstances must come out before the Committee, that it should now be inquired into; but he would state one ground on which he was inclined to believe, that the noble Duke would be satisfied, that his object was the true and legitimate one of endeavouring to carry out the best intentions which could exist with regard to the colony. It had been his intention to submit to the House a bill to carry into effect those objects, but the propriety of that measure must depend, in a great degree, on the state of facts, which should appear before the Committee. He thought the House would agree with him in the propriety of having an inquiry, before the Bill was introduced; and if in the result it should turn out, that the House was not satisfied with the course he intended to pursue, it would not be adopted. His object was not to bolster up any 154 private company, as the noble Duke seemed to imagine, but to carry into operation the views of many most excellent persons, as to the mode of populating those islands of New Zealand with British subjects, in such a way as Parliament would be disposed to sanction.
§ The Duke of Richmondcould assure the noble Earl that he did not mean, in any way, to charge him or any other person, with any sinister intention. What he desired was information, and he imagined that any peer in his seat, in that House, might, on a Motion being made for a Committee, ask a question with a view of ascertaining whether the proposed proceeding was such as he could sanction. The answer of the noble Earl was satisfactory, but he had heard, that a company was in existence in the colony. The noble Earl's answer, however, had made it clear enough, and his explanation that he intended hereafter to introduce a bill on the question, was sufficiently satisfactory to assure him of the propriety of his motion being granted.
§ Lord Glenelgsaid, that the subject was one of great importance, and, on general grounds, was well worthy the attention of Parliament. He wished, however, that time would have permitted the noble Earl to have entered more at large into his reasons for the present motion. The question had been brought before the Government some time ago, and it was proposed then to bring in a bill; and, if certain conditions had been agreed to, a charter was to have been granted. The parties, however, were not prepared to enter into the conditions which the Government thought necessary, and it was useless, therefore, to bring in the Bill in the House of Commons. With regard to the measure proposed to be introduced now by the noble Earl, although the Government should offer no objection to its being brought in, they could not be taken to pledge themselves to adopt any specific course in reference to it hereafter. The noble Earl, no doubt, entered into the subject with the intention to inquire fairly into it; and the Government, too, would enter upon it without any prejudice, either in favour of any particular course being adopted, or in opposition to any particular measures. He did not entertain any biassed feelings on the subject, but desired to enter into the state of New Zealand, in 155 such a way as to give it the best attention which he could afford with reference to the interests of the British settlers there; and if a bill were introduced and carried, the effect of which would be to protect the natives of the country, and the British settlers consistently with the interests of the natives, an act of humanity and of justice would be done reflecting the highest praise on the policy of this country. He trusted, that such would be the result of the labours of the Committee. There had been many suggestions offered to him upon the subject, into which he should not now enter, but he would suggest that the Committee should so pursue their labours as to enable the House to adopt some measure this Session. It might be important to mention, that the Government had intended to bring forward a measure in reference to New South Wales, in which certain clauses would have been contained, having reference to New Zealand; but it would depend upon the Report of the Committee, whether those provisions would now be contained in that bill. That measure would have been introduced before, but for the termination of the former application to the Government. He merely threw out these observations with a view to the speedy conclusion of the sitting of the Committee.
§ The Earl of Devonsaid, that was his object in moving the appointment of the Committee to-night, in order to get all information as soon as possible.
§ Motion agreed to, and Committee appointed.