The Hon. J*. Ham. said that Government were anxious to allow these prisoners to go free at the very first moment they could do so with any degree of safety. He quoted from the Irish Peace Protection Bill of 1871 to show that the power asked on the present occasion was not excessive or unprecedented, but that on the contrary tho Bill now before the Souse was lees arbitrary than that mea sure. They had been told to put these prisoners on trial, but he would ask what was the use of such a proceeding. It would only be the means of detaining them- longer than they were likely to be detained. Referring to the member for the Thames, ho could that gentleman 'and "the House that any advice Government might give in the matter would be consistent with the dignity of the Crown, and perfeotly con stitutional. Sir G. Grey desired us to believe that the Maoris were an oppressed people. They had been a misgoverned people, but not oppressed. A large Native expenditure had .gone on for their benefit; their properties were freed from rating and taxation, and yet they were called an oppressed people. The statement was absurd. If they were oppressed by "anything it was by their false friende, and want of industry and.application. It was that that kept them down in the social scale. The position of things at present was alto gether exceptional, so muob. so that no law ac it stood could be brought to apply. That was the reason that they claimed exceptional legis lation. For years baok these Natives had prevented roads and-telegraphs being made, and in open defiance of the law attempted to assert their right at the dictation of their fanatical chief. These were the men they were asked to liberate and allow to return to all the mischievous influence to which they had been exposed. The circumstances were altogether exceptional, and he hoped that the House would not refuse them the legislation so urgently demanded. He hoped that the time was not distant when it would be safe to allow these men to return to their homes, but that time had not yet arrived. 