MONDAY, MAY 2, 1898. THE MAORI TROUBLE.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 102, 2 May 1898, Page 4

MONDAY, MAY 2, 1898. THE MAORI TROUBLE.

« To the native mind it no doubt must often appear that it is an act of oppression that the Pakejia will not permit him to keep as many dogs as he may choose without being heavily taxed lor the gratification of what to the Maori seems a natural right. To him it often seems an arbitrarj act on the part of the. Government to exact this money, the fact being that it is the best legal means yet devised to keep down the packs of useless, half -starved mongrels that infest every Maori camp or pah, and are a constant menace to the sheep of' the neighbouring settlers. Did the natives keep, as the European settlers do, dogs for use only, the tax would not be felt, but though fixed by the local body at a small annual fee, with equal application to both races, the careless Maori, who has his dogs, and finds pleasure in their numbers, not unaturally feels himself oppressed when he is required to pay what in the aggregate is a considerable sum for the right of his fourfooted companions to remain alive. In Australia the same trouble would arise out west with the dogs of the natives did not the squatter make short work of them from time to time, by the occasional distribution of poisoned bait ; and while we do not advocate the adoption of any such method here, the Maori must be made to understand that if his dog cannot conform to habits of civilisation aud leave 1 the Pakeha's sheep in peace, then he must be put upon the ohaiu or go. As for the present threats of the small Tjody of fanatical natives in the Bay o& Islands, the best authorities here seem to think that it is only a demonstration by way of a protest against a tax that has always been resented by the natives, and has in the past at the Chathams, Wanganui, and in the King Country led to the need of a display of authority, though on this occasion the Government, and we think wisely, has decided upon making display in force. There is, however, in the telegrams of today a note of demand that may mean that this native splutter, if not promptly and firmly checked, may he lifted quite above a mere anti-dog lax demonstration, and become a " movement." The Hey. Mr. Gittos, we are told, went out to meet the natives aud asked them what they wanted, and they answered that they wanted to be relieved of all taxation aud to he allowed to live as Maoris. Here is a simply expressed but most wide and comprehensive programme that may appeal to too many of those whose hopes of Home Rule, stimulated by the introduction of Mr. Kaihau's Bill last session and the demands of the late Maori Parliament, have been properly discounted b}' the declared intentions of the Government in regard to the future management and control ol" native lands. This we are told is a " fanatical " outbreak, aud past experience has long since taught those in authority the possibilities of contagion once the Maori becomes infected with fanaticism. He will not be soothed by attempts to per-

suade him to trust to Parliament to redress his grievances, for he knows from long experience that while the rangatiras of li is trihe are encouraged to come to Parliament and air their views before the Native Affairs Committee, they do not as a rule receive attention on the floor of the House. Had the Premier been wise he would have exploited Mr. Henare Kaihau's Native Rights Bill, which we reviewed fully and condemned at the time, and made for ever clear the impossible nature of tbe demands it contained. Instead of this the Maori niembers were fobbed off once more with indefinite or half-implied promises, the whole tendency of which has been to unsettle tbe native mind. As we have urged time and again, the nativeland question should once and for all be put on a firm and comprehensive basis, and the native owners should have all their rights clearly denned, and their obligations to tbe Slate made plain. Meanwhile, the men who now threaten armed violence can only be dealt with in one way, and the public voice will be entirely upon the side of the Government in the decisive action thai has been taken.