THE GOVERNMENTS AND THE MAORIS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3218, 8 November 1867, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENTS AND THE MAORIS.

To the Editor of the Daily Southxrk Ckosi. Sib,— l was pleased to read " Pakeha's " letter, for he clearly expresses just notions as to the rights of property. I hope he will allow me to say "ditto" to all he wrote. The Maoris are a reasoning people, and they also have an instinctive appreciation of justice. They feel sore at the (as they consider) unjust confiscation of immense tracts of their most favoured lands* Worse than all, they can see no < end to the Governmental claims on their land. The Governor pledged his word at Tauranga that he would be satisfied with the confiscation of 50,000 acres there, but, owing to blunders in some department, 5,000 acres more were unjustly seized on, and surveyed ; causing the last dis« turbance at Tauranga, with loss of life, great expenditure, and vast destruction of native crops. But what caps the climax is the Tauranga Lands Act, which enacts that (the plighted word of Sir G. Grey goes for nothing) upwards of 200,000 acres are to be confiscated. This Act was suddenly brought forward at the fag end of the session. Now is it not advisable, on every account, " that questions of importance and magnitude, and not of extreme urgency, should be preceded by some public and general notice? " Numbers of reasons can be adduced why this should be done, and not a single honest one why it should not. Next, how shamefully have the natives been treated at Poverty Bay. The Court, properly convened, was three times, no less, by order of the Government, adjourned ; the Maoris, besides their other expenses, having to pay heavy costs to their agents and interpreters from Auckland. Can the natives have confidence in these Courts, or in the independence of the Judges? It is, I suppose, an old-fangled fiction that con* aiders both parties, in any cause, in courts of justice, equal in the eye of the law; it was formerly supposed that law courts should show no favour, affection, or distinction. Dilatory and expensive law is tantamount to a denial of justice, and a premium to the evil-doer. The courts of justice are open only to those who have plenty of money. Many here, powerful for evil, are above the law. Laws are supposed to be enacted not for the benefit of the rulers or a clique, but to promote the greatest good of the greatest number. Public councils should reflect the public sentiments. They do nothing of the sort unfortunately, because there is no safeguard against the imbecilities and corruption of Ministers. The Maori is said to enjoy all the rights of the British subject. By the Constitution they are as follow : —Ist. The right of personal security. 2nd. The right of personal liberty. 3rd. The right of property, which consists in the use, enjoyment, and disposal of all acquisitions without any control or diminution. 4th. The right of representation in the Legislature. Admitting these rights to exist, it follows that all acts by which they are invaded are wrongs — that is to say, crimes or injuries. These wrongs have been the causes of war. The Maoris had no other means of redress. With a large stake in the country, they have been totally unrepresented in Parliament. They were forbidden to sell their land except to the Government, and the!price was £d. per acre, and' they saw it re-sold for 10s. By ignoring^the Maori righti, we cannot avoid incurring the penalties attaching to their neglect. The eternal principles of honour and equity cannot be violated with impunity ; retribution must come, sooner or later, as certainly as life leads to the grave. The Maoris certainly did leave the paths of constitutional action : why ? Because they were excluded from the privileges of the Constitution. Our Superintendent desires still longer to so exclude them. They are entitled to at least common justice and equality, if not to liberal and generous treatment. The system of governing by force, by mean dodging, and temporising expedients, and putting down discontent by coercion and confiscation, should be altogether exploded. Why raise obstacles, checks, hindrances, &c, to the natives individualising their titles according to law, thereby dispiriting them and preventing the country being opened up ? What has the Native Land Court done or been allowed to do, south of this cityP Next to nothing. The natural obstacles are sufficient iv settling a waste country, without the Government raising artificial ones of its own creating. I think the natives came off more creditably than our side at the meeting at Ohinemuri. It ii said that when "his Honor turned away sharply to go," Tukukina rose and said : " Mr. Williamson, hear me ! Do not turn away in anger. What wrong have I done? If Ido wrong, tell me. What I have decided is not wrong. I have a right to do so. Do only let us alone." He might have added, with truth, " Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes." It is to be hoped that " Othello's occupation is gone," and that soon Europaans and natives will stand on an equal footing, and be able to transact all their dealings without Government agency or brokerage. The Maori Kingitei are well off in one respect, — they are not over-governed, as we are, by both a Provincial and General a Government; nor, are they afflicted with what Carlyle so mercilessly handles and designates " attorneyism." My S chief object at this time is to point out the wisdom of righteousness and friendly dealing with all the natives, in contrast with the remits of an arbitrary tone of conduct and manners. It would be a graceful act to make the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh the occasion of a general amnesty ; distinctly saying, once and for all, that the past shall be forgiven— that a new er» of peace, justice, and perfect equality is to be opened up. We may then calculate pretty safely on * bright future.— l am, &c,