The Press. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1911. THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13999, 23 March 1911, Page 6

The Press. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1911. THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER.

It will be remembered that on the last occasion when Sir Joseph Ward went to England, it was generally agreed that in appointing tho Hon. Mr Carroll as Acting-Prime Minister, he was adopting a somewhat singular method of showing his regard for the proper maintenance of the dignity of his high office. Despite the protests which were made on that occasion, Mr Carroll has again been appointed acting-head of the Government of New Zealand, and as if to evince his contempt for public opinion, he lias already begun to show how little he appreciates what is duel to the position in which he has unfortunately been placed. First we read I of his going to Parihaka on March 17th to take part in the native gather-1 ings still held in that village to keep alive memories of-'Maori'fanati-cism and superstition, which in th© in-' terests of all, especially of the Maoris [ themselves, ought to be allowed to die a natural death. A Press Association message, evidently inspired, says that Mr Carroll himself explained that his visit "had no political significance," but that "he and members of his party, "as representing various tribes, were "conforming to old Maori custom in " paying their respects to tho memory "of the noted prophet and chieftain, "Te Whiti." Those .who take an interest in Maori history know that March 17th is the anniversary of tho day on which for many years To Whiti used to assemble the tribes from all parts of New Zealand to harangue them in, speeches of mingled sedition and blasphemy, in which he actually proclaimed himself to bo the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and that ho brought the colony to the verge of a, native war. If the Parihaka natives like to keep up the observance, of that* day for the purposo of honouring the memory of Te Whiti, we do not know that thero is any objection to their doing so, but for the Acting-Primo Minister to grace the occasion with his presence seems to us an act of gross impropriety. Now we are told that early in April a gathering of Maori tribes is to bo held at Kaikohe in the north of Auckland, that "preparations "on a somewhat lavish scale are be- " ing made to feast and accommodate "2000 persons," and that the Hon. Mr Carroll is to be present. Everyone who is at all conversant with native affairs know that these Maori feastings aro a curse to the native race, that they often resolve themselves into something like an orgy, and that even if they are kept within orderly bounds they seriously impoverish the natives who take part in them, unsettle them, and render them less inclined than ever to take up the "gospel of work" in which alone lies their salvation. Such j gatherings ought to bo discouraged j rather than fostered, and Mr Carroll is j showing very little regard for the welfare of those whom he is pleased to call his own people by giving them his official countenance. It goes without saying that the pakeha section of tho community regard with disfavour the spectacle of the Acting-Prime Minister taking part in such junketings, instead of putting a little energy into his departmental work, which according to all accounts is sadly and perpetually in arrears.