"Ignorance is Bliss."

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 81, 17 December 1887, Page 2

"Ignorance is Bliss."

The Wellington Post saya with regard to the various measures dealing with Native Lands which have been introduced by the Government i—" We do not contend that Mr Ballance was a political angel dropped from Heaven for the sole purpose of settling the Native Land question, but we do cotte tend that that gentleman has done more to stop landsharking, and Pake» ba-Maori swindling than any other in the oolony. Perhaps there were faults in his Native Land Bill, but, was ever there an infallible statesman ? At the same time, any measures * which will bring about the old pandtaonium of Native Land swindlea for the benefit of a few interested persons must be carefully scrutinised. We know that there are many uncompleted land transactions — uncompleted through technical flaws in the law—which it is in every way desirable should be validated and set right, in the interest* of all parties concerned: but if we are correctly informed, the Bills as they at present stand will not effect this object in regard to many of the tranaactions where the greatest and most legitimate hardship is involved. The committee of the Legislative Council, which has been considering this Bill, has, we believe, elicited evidence to . show the names of a large number of persons, if not all, who will benefit by the Government proposals, and this very list in itself affords ample proof of the necessity for great caution and strict enquiry before taking any decisive action. The colony, by validating a few questionable native land transactions, may sacrifice, for the benefit of private individuals, a great deal more than all the savings to be effected for years to come by such cheeseparing and candle-ends savings as are involved in the Ministerial and Legislature reductions on which the Government so pride themselves.” The Post is. certainly consistent in the views it holds with regard to the native land question. It would be a wonder were it not so, for they seem to be as ignorant now as to subject matter on which they write as they were years ago. As there are bad journalists so there are land sharks, but because there are one or two bad eggs in a nest that is not to say that all are the same, lhe Post has got it into its head that anyone dealing with native laud is a thief, and to ■ attempt to convince it otherwise would simply be a waste of time. If the paper referred to were as consistent in their politics as they are iu discussing the laud laws, one could look up to it -as some authority on the political topics of the day.