MR. McLEAN'S "ALARM" MOTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 21 September 1868, Page 2

MR. McLEAN'S "ALARM" MOTION.

The following report is taken from the Wellington Independent of Sept. 17. The resolution was moved in the House of Representatives on Sept: 16, and, as our readers have been informed by telegram, the debate was adjournedi—

Mr M'Lean said, in moving the resolution standing in his name, he felt bound to state his reasons for doing so. He believed that the Native and defence questions were, in the present crisis, of the most vital importance to the prospects and prosperity of the country, ihe lion, gentlemen on the Government benches, did not appear to pay that attention to those important questions which their urgency demanded. They appeared to be more occupied in the Road Board and other bills of secondary importance. The defence measures, he felt sure, did not give satisfaction to the members of the House. There was war on the West Coast and war on the East Coast. They were told these troubles would end in a few weeks, but the country appeared to be getting further from the end. The colonists were contending with a highly intelligent, and in many respects, a chivalrous race. The interior of the country was shut up in sulky seclusion. He would not say anything on military operations. He would be sorry to say a word that would embarrass the Government in a time of crisis, or a word that would disparage those brave men who were shedding their blood for the country. But there was a deep feeling in the minds of the people that something was wrong which ought to be corrected. When tlie civil process interfered with the conduct of military operations, it neutralised the responsibility of officers conducting the war, and nothing but lamentable results could follow divided councils. Ihe hon. Colonial Secretary had sHid that not more than 250 natives had ever been brought to bear upon one spot, but he (Mr M'Lean) could tell the hon. gentle man that the number might be multiplied by five and a war might be brought on which would distract the whole population of the North, and ruin the hearths and homes of men, who had spent half their life-time in making for themselves a home. He might be expected to speak warmly on a subject on which he felt strongly. The Chatham island prisoners had gone to the Uriwera country, and the Uriwera tribe was a bold mountain tribe, who cried "aki, aki," that they would never surrender until death. He regretted the light and. easy manner in which the hon. Colonial Secretary spoke of these matters as if they were of secondary importance, but if that course were pursued then ruinous consequences must be expected. He (Mr M'Lean) had never asked for assistance either,of money or men if he could do without them. The hon. gentleman would bear that testimony. The Ministers might reßt assured that if things were going wrong at Napier they would soon hear of apprehension at Wairarapa. The people of Napier had upon a not remote occasion acted like Englishmen when there was I, danger. Was it too much to have asked the Gpvernment to leave the small force which was at Napier as a centre round which the colonists should rally ? The refusal and the manner of it was a piece of hard-hearted cruelty to the people of Napier. (Loud cheers) It was not required to retain them as a means of profit to storekeepers (cheers) The country wa3 getting deeper and deeper into difficulty. Something must be done to make an effort to stay a crisis that was fast impending. He (Mr McLean) had never been an alarmist. He had always endeavoured to allay apprehension so far as he could. This small force to which the people of Napier looked for protection were sent to the trout under the sham pretence of restoring : confidence, when there were those at the front who according to the language of Ministers, ought to have restored confidence without it. , Were liattyes expected to be angels, and that < after fighting with the Europeans they would not molest settlers ? It was sai 1 there was uo danger. He did not want troops in Napier. It was the outlying districts that wanted protection. The friendly natives were erecting pahs to defend themselves, au.l , yet the Ministers said there was" no danger." i fhere were five pahs being erected in the j Wairoa, one by Tareha, who never thought of , doing so before. Should not the Gover- ! fii ?• CoQß ' dere( ! the effect on the ■ nendly natives of taking, away every avail- •

able defence ? He had protested against iT Fraser. I here was a growing feeli., jnf insecurity in the outlying district, Th«, h»d been samcthing like a panic cau J "he action of the Government He i j never since he was i„ the 'public '' vice ieen such an evidence of weaknwl The Maori? would read it Here are tl Kuropeans defeated on every side; they m take away the few men here to retrieve h, " fortunes on the West Coast, havin« h,Z beaten by a Native who had obtained great power and celebrity. So long as mere red tapeism, so long as mere officialism influenced ths action of Hu: Government,so long ag refused to take into their councils the'ipi n j on , of colonists, so long as they excluded those elements of good understanding which would grow out of a wise policy, difficulty would '•ontinue._ He beaged to move that "this llousa views with alarm the condition to which the country was reduced in conse quence of the management of the Native ami defence detriments, (Uud cheers). The gentleman read a written p oten wi.ich to hud sent to the Government.

Several lion, menders: R'*a«i the answer Mr M'l,ean : No written a swer wan gi ren to me j it was verbal. The lion, member read his resolution as followshat this House views with alarm the position in which the colony is beinu placed by the acti , n of the Government in relation to defence and Native affairs.

The Hon Mr Stafford did not agree with the bon. member in the belief that the removal of 58 men from one side of the island" to another involved the fate of the whole future pro perity of the colony. There had been a proposal ma'ie to the Government to give so large a aum as £.',6,000 over to a commission concerned in a very limits district. The hon. member was informe-1 that whatever might be given should to under the sanction of the Minister who wa« responsible to that House. Was the hon gentleman opposed to extending protection" to women and children on the Wm iw and keeping the force at Napier, where he admitted there wa* no danger. Toe whole object of the legislation o£ last year was to be directed upon positions where 'hey were wanted leaving the centres of p , pa u ti(m to be defended by local volunteers fie (Mr Stafford) believed that the Country was not in a position to fight on two Bides of the island at the same time. He agreed with the hon. member for Rangitikei that once fi»htine had begun intervention by the civil authority except the Government, who were responsible' .would ba sure to cause confusion. Hon. members accused the Government of " drifting " into war. The Government of the honmember for Rangitikei had had great re-sources-money was voted to them without stint, yet the patriarchs of Auckland were to be seen trailing their muskets in the streets of that city. That was the drifting then The Government of Mr Weld was scarcely a day without fighting. The present Government was nearly " drifting " into peace. He felt weary of all those proceedings which were being taken. He cared not how soon he might be able to look from afar upon the conduct of public affairs by those gentlemen. If the Government should go out after" a majority against the motion of want of confidence, it would at least carry with it some consolation. But it would not accept a false position, which was attempted to be created by intercepting a vote of " want of confidence" by alarm resolutions. It had been the policy of the Government to allow the old emb?rs of enmity to die out Fie had never heard a more alarmist speech than that of the hon. member. His excited tone was quite a new thing. To compare the removal of 57 men from a place which was not in danger in such times was unusual. The effect of that speech would be greater than the victories of Titakuwaru. On the heads of those who used that language be the responsibility. It was unfortunate that owing to the form of Government under which they lived, they were obliged to divulge their points of weakness and attack. Orders had been given to increase the means of defence in the outlying districts. There was no panic ; they had the assurances of the Bishop of Waipu to that effect. There had been a large number of arms out, to the extent of 2000; and was there not a trigger to be pulled against the natives in rebellion, who were committing great crimes. The colony was not one which had a national life, but was made up of a congeries of disconnected centres; he did not care how soon be saw it in other hands. The time had come when he might review the whole position, and consider whether it was worth while to sacrifice all that made life dear to the further prosecution of the contest. (Chee 8.) Major Brown recited several circumstances of which natives bitterly complained. In one case Colonel M'Donnell had threatened to shoot two men. They feared another Pokaikai. Titokuwharu asked "If you are supporters of law why do you come upon us in the night, and with arms in your hands. Would any officer of constabulary, the greater part of whose duty was to preserve peace, be justified in so acting. Hostilities were very imminent to the settlement of Taranaki. There had been a road recommended to be made «t the back of Mount Egmont, but Colonel M'Donnell was to be consulted.

The Hon. Mr Richmond: No, no. Major Brown : Would the Government deny it. It appeared to him that the members of the Government did not know what was done by each other. The Native Minister did not know wlmt the Defence Minister wai doing, and the Defence Minister did not know what the Native Minister was doing. So each was cutting the ground from under the other.