Parliamentary Debates.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 984, 3 October 1868, Page 3

Parliamentary Debates.

MR. MoLEAN'S RESOLUTION. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16. (From the " Independent."} Mb. 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. The hon. 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 de- , fence 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 hei 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 the 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. The Hon. Colonial Secretary had said that not more than 250 natives had ever been brought to bear upon one spot, but he (Mr. M'Lean) could tell the hon. gentleman 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 inusjt 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 rest assured that if things were going wrong at Napier they would soon hear of apprehension at Wairarapa. The people of Napier had upon a remote occasion acted like Englishmen, ■when there was danger. Was it too much to have asked the Government 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 store-keepers (cheers). The country was getting deeper and deeper into difficulty. Something must be done to make an effort to stay a crisis thatwasfast impending. He (Mr. M'Lean) had never been an alarmist. He had always endeavoured to allay apprehension so far he could. This small force to • which the people of Napier looked for protection were sent to the front 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 natives expected to be angels, that, after fighting with the Europeans, they would not molest settlers ? It was said there w-as no danger to Napier. He did not want troops in Napier. It was the outlying districts that wanted protection. The friendly natives were erecting pahs to defend themselves, and yet the Ministers, said there was "no danger," There were pahs being erected in the Wairoa, and by Tareha, who never thought of doing so' before. Should not the Government have considered the effect on the friendly natives of taking away every available defence? He had protested against the withdrawal of the small force under Major Fraser. There was a growing feeling of insecurity in the outlying districts. There had been something like a panic caused by the action of the Government. He had never since he was in the public service seen such an evidence of weakness. The Maoris would read it. Here are the Europeans defeated on every 'side- they must take away the few men here to retrieve their fortunes on the West Coast, having been beaten by a native who had obtained great. power and celebrity. So long as mere red tapeism, so long as they refused to take into their councils the opinions of colonists, so long as they excluded those elements of good understanding^ which would grow out of wise policy, difficulty would continue. He begged to move that " this House views with alarm the condition to which the country was reduced in consequence of the management of the native and defence departments." (Loud cheers;) The hon. gentleman read a written protest which he had sent to the Government. The Hon. Mr. Staffobd did not agree with the hon. member in the belief that t)i&' removal o£ 57 men from one side of the island to another involved the fate, or the. whole future prosperity of the colony. There had been a proposal made to the Government to give so large a sum as £56,000 ; over to a commission concerned in a very limited district. The lion, member was informed that whatever might be given should be under the sanction of the Minister who was responsible to that House. Was the hon. gentleman opposed to ex/tending protection to women and children on the West Coast, and keeping the force at Napier, where he admitted there was no danger. The whole object of the legislation of last year was to create a moveable force, to be directed upon positions where they were wanted, leaving the centres of population to be defended by local Volunteers. He (Mr. Stafford) believed that the Country was not in a position to fight on two sides of the island at the same time. He agreed with the hon. member for Rangitikei, that, once fighting had begun, intervention by the civil authority, except the Government who were responsible, would be sure to cause confusion. Hon. members accused the Government of " drifting" into war. The government of the hon. member for Rangitikei had had great resources : money was r voted to them without stint, yet the [patriarchs of Auckland were to be seen "t trailing their muskets in the streets of [that city. That was the drifting then. >The Government of Mr. Weld was scarcely j a clay without fighting. The present Goivernment.twas nearly "drifting" into PJr a ? e< : :He. felt weary of all those proceed- : ings -which 'were being taken. He cared soon he might be able to look ■;_ r from -afar .upon the conduct of public ; ;V^i^aira. ; -"b^tliose"- gentlemen. If the Go--Qferiimeiit-should go out after a majority ;/; obtained against the motion of want of >j,cbafi4&ce, it would at least carry with it

some grain of 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 embers of enmity to die out. He had never heard a more alarmist speech than that of the hon. member. His excited tone was quite a new thing. To complain of 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 Titokuwharo. On the heads of those who used that language be the responsibility. It was unfortunatethat owing to theformofGovernmentunder 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 assurance of the Bishop of Waiapu to that effect. There had been a large number of arms out, to the extent of 2009 ; 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 he 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. (Cheers.) Major Bkown recited several circumstances of which natives bitterly complained. In one case Colonel M'Donnell had threatened to shoot two men. They feared another Pokaikai. Titokuwharo 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 at the back of Mount Egmont, but Colonel M'Donnell was to be consulted. The Hon. Mr. Richmond : No, no. Major Bbown: 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 what the Defence Minister was doing, and the Defence Minister did not know what the Native Minister was doing. So each was cutting the ground i'rom under the other. The time having arrived to proceed with the orders of the day, Mr. Tbavebs moved that the orders of the day be postponed in order to allow the debate to proceed. The Hon. Mr. Staffobd said he would not accept that proposition. The Government had a right which should he conceded to choose the manner in which the indictments would be taken. After some discussion, the question was put that the orders of the day be postponed. Ayes, 31 ; Noes, 38. The orders of the day were then proceeded with.