INTERNAL DEFENCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1074, 13 August 1869, Page 3

INTERNAL DEFENCE.

The following is the Hansard version of the speech of the Defence Minister, delivered in the House 'of Representatives on the 3rd inst:— ; '' ' \- • Sir, in speaking to the resolutions before the Committee, I- desire to draw the attention of honorable members to the sudden development of events during the last twelve months ; to the .very critical position of the North Island ; to " the great loss of life ancl property that has taken place ; to the destruction of /comfortable homes and the ruin of many settlers ; and to ask if it is not time that we should carefully reconsider our position and use our best endeavours to extricate the country from the calamitous state into which it is plunged. It will be admitted on all hands thafc the principal difficulty we have to contend with in this Colony is the Native difficulty. I I think that is a question the magnitude and importance of which we have., nofc yefc sufficiently, realized. Notwithstanding many years of Colonial- experience, we still seem not to have recognized those national feelings by which the race with whom we have come in contact has been animated, nor have we appreciated the various motives j that have actuated their conduct during | now a period of five or six and twenty years. I will not trouble ' you, Sir, nor honorable members, by going into a long history ofthe past, but I wish shortly to draw attention'to a few facts connected therewith, which may throw some light upon the subject./.About the year 1820, one of the •.most celebrated native chiefs, named Hongi, ipaid. a visit to Great Britain, where he was .presented to George IV. He there formed rgreat.ideas ofthe King's power and grandeur, and his ambition led him to conceive that, when he returned to his own country, he would conquer his opponents and become King of New Zealand. Subsequently, in 1835, therer was a confederation of chiefs, at which certain laws and resolutions for the government of the country and the maintenance of its sovereignty, were adopted, and sent home fco the King of England, soliciting his countenance and protection, to give effect to this nationality. These aims, if unaided by European advice, were very great, and there is no doubt that a race capable of such aspirations was deserving of the highest consideration on the part of any Government which established itself in this country. I think the fact has been generally overlooked, that a race possessed ofsuch qualities must be naturally jealous of the jurisdiction of a foreign power, and I believe that this is the true point of difference between ourselves and the natives. GeneraUy, our jurisdiction has been resented, and that has really been the cause of the slow progress made in gaining any particular ascendency over them. We came in contact with a people possessed of endurance, courage, and military genius, of which we have had considerable experience during the last eight years of New Zealand history. They have proved themselves skilful in war, fertile in resource, and there is no doubt they are possessed of characteristics which may yet prove of vast advantage if they' can only be so fused arid blended as to bring them under one general system thafc will work iv harmony with the institutions of the colony. When I say it is necessary that we should . reconsider our position, I think we have invariably j aimed at a great deal too much in New Zealand ; we have had very ambitious projects. I have heard ifc stated by a gentleman who was Premier of the country not many years ago — when, at the zenith of our power, and troops were arriving by thousands, the Imperial forces were not less than 10,000 supported on the part of the colonists by 5,000 men — that the Queen's writ should be made to pass from end to end of the.island. The Queen's writ does not now ruji from end to end of the ' island, and we are almost as far from attaining that bbjeqt'ias Ye Were afc the time of the announcement. The great fault has been that we haveaimed afc more than could \ be accomplished with the means and appliances which we possessed. We have enacted, with the ; best possible intentions, laws for the henefifcOf the native race, arid yefc we have found,, as that very intelligent observer, Hepworth Dixon, says, that "■ habits and customs, are stronger than laws." We discovered that- those laws were only observed when they favoured the people for whom they were established. Impracticable theories have been propounded frequently by persons recently arrived from England, who believe they are best able to introduce a system of Government for a people of Whose habits, customs, traditions, and language they are altogether ignorant. Physical force has been tried with varied success, but this has nofc effected a solution ot the difficulties. Last of all, we have had a development of character which has. .thrown, ,a gloom, over the country. A dangerous spirit of fanaticism has arisen, occasioning' those deeds' of horror which daricert'-the history 'of the Colony, leaving "jffijjtures of crime iand misery in its train tp'o. gainful to contemplate. Our attention, however, • must .be diverted from such scenes, and directed to the consideration of the best means of- extricating the country from a position which, to reflective minds, is one of extreme difficulty. In fully con- I sidering this subject, the conclusion arrived.' at is that there is yet some gleam of hope — some prospect still before us, and that' we are not justified in giving up this, dif- I flcult question .in. despair, but must' ear- ' nestly make fdrfe" effortsi.6 arrive at a !

settlement of it. I maintain thafc the key to our action must be through the friendly natives — through, I am happy to say, the still numerous friendly tribes thafc inhabit the North Island. I know that there are prejudices against them, but many have arrayed themselves on our side in times of difficulty and danger; they have shown 'an appreciation of our institutions, displayed feelings of chivalry and courage, and exhibited a devotedness to our cause in. the. past which gives an earnest of , what they can do for us in the future. There is no doubt that we have committed many mistakes, even with respect to our friendly allies. Not very long ago, a chief of great celebrity, named Tirarau, who lives at the North) and who, in the infant stages of Auckland, was instrumental iri saving it from being attacked by the northern tribes, expressed himself as follows.' — "I consider that remaining quiet and friendly causes neglect on the part of fche Government ; to be troublesome or turbulent seems appreciated, and attracts attention. Where listurbances prevail, the Government soon take notice ofthe actors." This proves that even when we gain the confidence of the. friendly natives we do not sufficiently encourage or make them feel that' we are in earnest in our appreciation of their conduct while we notice our opponents. Ifc is not alone those slights and grievances, which are everywhere incident to colonization, that make such an impression on the minds of these people. They are grievances which, when rectified, are soon forgotten, but there is always, even with the friendly natives," that durable difference of race which keeps the European and the aborigine so far apart. It will be found that those smaller grievances are not so much felt by those natives who have been settled in European districts, nor is it those natives who are most adverse to our rule in this country. In the remote and inaccessible mountains of the interior, the portion of the native population from whom the Europeans have never obtained one inch of land, and from whom nothing whatever has been exacted, are the very first to rally and take the field against us, as they have done on many occasions, without having one single pretext for doing so, excepting that of their national character, ancl of their feeling thafc the country should not be occupied by a foreign race. I would instance two tribes which are in this particular position. The Ngatiruanui, on the West Coast, who never alienated one inch of land to the Government, who would nofc even allow a missionary to keep a cow on the abundant grass which is to be found on their fertile plains, conceived, from superstitious belief, or other causes, a strong aversion to European settlement; and, from the commencement of the war in 1860 to the present time, have shown very little inclination — as evidenced by the prisoners now in this harbour— to enter into friendly relations with us. There is, again, thafc wild mountain tribe, the Urewera, who have on every occasion taken an active part against us. It will be the object ofthe Government;, during the recess, to place itself, as fur as possible, in communication with the various tribes throughout the Northern Island, to see if it is possible to arrive at a settlement of Jhe great leading differences of opinion between them and the Europeans. Ifc is our intention to confer frankly and openly with them on all these questions, and, if possible, to obtain such reliable information with reference to the views of these tribes as may enable us to frame some measure for their better government. It has been suggested on several occasions that our difficulties might be overcome by the formation of districts, in the goyernmeufc of which the natives themselves should take a considerable share. Two years ago such a plan might have been successful, bufc I confess that I fear ifc is now too late to attempt the formation of such districts. The Governor has the power to proclaim districts, and if that power had been used, it might have saved us from many of the difficulties of the past few years ; but I fear now that such an attempt would do no good. There is one point in connection with our dealing with these large tribes of natives in which we have greatly failed. We have overlooked the existence amongst them of an institution which would have been of the greatest value to us if we had availed ourselves of it — I mean the institution of chieftainship. If we had fully recognised the chiefs ofthe country, and reposed confidence in them, I believe they would have reciprocated that confidence, and we should have had a power ready to work with us in every possible way in overcoming those difficulties which have been constantly cropping up from time to time. Although experience teaches us that we cannot now achieve anything of consequence as regards the natives without reference to the chiefs, yet we find ideas propounded to the effect thafc we must proceed with a system of detribalizatibn, and of breaking clown that power which, of all others, has beeii the most successful in other parts of the world in securing, peaceful relations and, giving, effect to the administrative- functions of Government as between Europeans- and aboriginal inhabitants. I say that our overlooking that power of chieftainship has been one of the greatest oversights we have committed in dealing with the natives, and even now, if we fairly recognize and acknowledge ifc, ifc will greatly aid in bridging over those difficulties which threaten us. If we go on with detribalization, the effect will be thafc we shall have, in various parts of the country, bands of mariiuders, under no control and subject to no authority, and who will give to the war a phase which, though not exactly new, unfortunately will lead to the destruction of the native race itself, ancl will - be greatly detrimental aud dangerous to our scattered colonists in this North Island. One great" error has been that we have not organized or constructed sufficiently : pur tendency has been too much to break down existing institutions amongst the natives, instead of aiding and helping those institutions to the benefit of both races. By that means we have lost hold of— l hope not altogether — that which I conceive to be the great power for good amongst the natives in this island. Amongst the laws we have passed with regard to the natives, there is one which has, probably, received more favour than any other, and that is, the Native Lands Court Acfc. I was supposed to be nofc favourable to the introduction of that measure, and Ihave been accused of being adverse to the carrying, of it into effect. You, Sir, have on several occasions made reference to that subject ; but as you are now occupying the. chair, I shall riot adv.rt toi the views which: you have stated to the ftpuse. ' With re-

ference to the Native Lands .Court, I have entertained certain apprehensions that its operation might, in the course of time, give rise to litigation ancl difficulties which its most ardent promoters were not conscious it was capable of causing at the time. when the Act was passed, and of which they may riob : be : conscious even now. But,- as far as I am personally concerned, that Act having been passed by this Assembly, instead of having been its opponent, I have been one of its best supporters. I believe that I can bring forward the testimony of the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court in corroboration of what I say on this subject. Whatever views I may have entertained respecting the measure, I consider that the Court is an institution which may be, and in fact has been, productive of very great good. The Act requires certain amendments, which it will be the duty ofthe Government to bring before the House ; but, in itself, it will have frou me, as a member of the Government, c>i\ii 1 support. In the province from which 1 orae more land has been passed through tho Court, probably, than in any other part of the colony. The natives have become possessed of their . Crown Grants ; and what is more, they are becoming divested of those grarits in a way which, I think, will require consideration on the part of the Legislature. Influences are brought to bear upon natives which, I think, ought not to be exerted. Whenever, natives are found to have Crown Grarits in" their possession they are eagerly sought after, until they begin to look upon the obtaining of Crown Grants as a device through which they are to be deprived of their property. I will mention an instance which occurred to an hon. member of this House-— Tareha. He sold a very large extent of country to the Provincial Government of Hawke's Bay, and, in effecting the purchase, it was the desire of the Government to secure upon him, out of the price he was to receive for his land, a sum of £4,000, which was to be laid out at interest for his benefit, from which he was to receive an annual income. The Government of Hawke's Bay hoped to be able to carry that intention into effect ; bufc influences were brought to bear which resulted in his losing that annual income. I consider that certain amendments ought to be made in the Native Lands Act which would impose restrictions for the protection' of the property j of the natives. With reference to one of those difficult legacies to the country with which we have to deal, — the confiscated lands — I feel that the greatest caution will . be required. We may locate friendly natives upon blocks of those confiscated lands, and those blocks will thus be turned to good account. Although we cannot hold out a hope ofthe colonization of them immediately in any other way, the Government will endeavour to effect such settlement as I have ' stated, and will endeavor to obtain such information as to the best mode of managing those lands as will enable it, next session at all events, to bring forward a Bill on the subject. I know it has been said in the North that ifc might assist in averting some present or threatened difficulties with the powerful Waikato if that tribe could be located on some of the confiscated lands. It is pretty well known that a large section of Waikato now occupies territory not be- ' longing to the tribe ; audit would be the wish ancl desire ofthe Government to effect with them such an arrangement as I have spoken of, if ifc should be possible. As regards these confiscated lands generally, I. have, personally, always thought that their practical acquisition would be attended with very considerable difficulty, inasmuch as the country itself is very much like a chess-board — so divided between friendly and hostile natives, that ifc is most difficult ! to arrive at. a conclusion as to the true owners of any particular part. My own impression has always been that it would have been cheaper and better for us if we had obtained those lands in the ordinary way, by cession, with the goodwill of the natives ; for we should then haveescaped those costly struggles which our possession of the confiscated lands has entailed upon the country. There is another important subject, in reference to which, I know, even North Island members are not agreed, and that is the formation of lines of road throughout the country. . If we are to effect a peaceable settlement— if one ofthe prime essentials to colonization, which is road-making, is desired — we shall i find that it will not be difficult to form lines of road through many important parts of the country without in the least provoking opposition or antagonism on the part of the natives. Iv the Province of Auckland, for instance, a road from the Bay of Plenty to Rotorua and Taupo is very important, as opening up that part of the country. That road has already in a great measure been formed, mainly by the labour of the, Arawa tribe ; and it might now be carried, on into the interior to Taupo. Then, in the Province of Taranaki, there is the road by which General Chute made his celebra-'' ted march, and which was to some extent! improved by him during that march. It; might now be still further improved,' and so be made available in securing our possession of that part of the country. Again,, there is the line of road across the island' from West to East, by Manawatu; and there is the road from Wairarapa to Hawke's Bay, and from Hawke's Bay fco Taupo. All these are important. If we employed the natives in road-making under the direction and supervision of Europeans, I think that a million sterling might be well and wisely spent on such works. I have heard natives in the interior express themselves to this effect, v Open up a road to our part, and we shall be grateful to you, because it would nofc only be useful, bufc we should then feel that we should be protected against aggression by Hauhaus. If you will make a road, we will assist you in any way we can by our labour, and contribute towards the cost." I think that we ought to encourage such a disposition wherever we find it existing. That the natives should be employed by us in road-making is vastly better than that they should be engaged in war ; and I think that we ought not to lose sight of any opr portunity which . promises to enable us to gain the co-operation of natives in opening up the country. I repeat, the natives who" are friendly to us are quite aware, of the advantages of roads, and are ready at any time to help us, and to commence making roads. I recollect, during the Weld administration, offering to Mr. Weld to get a road opened up from Hawke's Bay towards Taupo and Auckland ; and if thafc offer had been accepted, we should have had ■ a good many of the tribes who have, since been hostile to us, working side by side with? us In/forming settlements along that line of

I rppd, . The desire of the. Government is, ! and its-aim. will be, to bring about amongst the natives, as far as possible, those habits of industry which they have for many years abandoned. It will be : in the recollection of many honorable members that, years ago; quite a fleet of small vessels belonging to natives used to trade to and from Auckland ; that great numbers of canoea came to. Auckland loaded with produce ; that numerous mills were owned by natives, in the rich districts of Rangiaohia and Waipa ; that those districts, swarmed with an exceedingly energetic and industrious people, desirous to possess themselves of the advantages of civilization. Ifc will be our. desire and aim, as far as possible, to induce a return to those feelings and habits ; and it will be indeed a happy thing for the country if we can bring about a new era, by so inducing the natives to turn their attention to pursuits other than those of war. .If we succeed in persuading the natives to turn, as I believe they are willing Iso turn, to pursuits of industry, we shall not have to meet, in future, under suoh circumstances as those of the last few years. I believe that a race like the New Zealanders, who are very anxious to become our equals, can be guided in the manner I have .suggested. We know that many of them have voluntarily taken menial employments, in the hope of learning what wiil enable them to place themselves on an equal tooting, with us; that many of them have served for years pn board ships in various parts of the world, and have come back and tried to turn their knowledge to account ; and, such being the case, we need not despair of being able to divei 't the minds of the natives into such channels as will lead them to peaceful and industrious pursuits. One question has, I believe, excited considerable anxiety on the part of honorable members, namely, what is the policy of the Government with reference to the native prisoners ? A few words will suffice to express our views on that point. The endeavour will be, as far as possible, to deal with prisoners just as we should deal with them if they were Europeans. It is true that a law-of an exceptional character has recently been passed by this House ; but ifc will be the endeavour of the Government to resort as little as possible to. exceptional laws, for we desire to the utmost of our power, to make the same laws apply to Maoris as to Europeans. In controlling events and dealing with emergencies as they arise — and we think that we can see through the dark clouds a glimpse of their silver lining — rthe policy of the Government will be one of firmness on the one hand, with a desire to secure peaceable and friendly relations with the various native tribes on the other. In reference to the question bf defence, the Government recognizes, primarily, the duties of protecting life and property,. and of punishing outrage arid crime. My hon. friend and colleague, the Premier, has already explained to the House that the policy of the Government will be non-aggressive — employing such force as the colony can command in defending life and property. It is not the intention to advance expeditions into different parts of.the country, where the men will be unavailable for purposes of defence, or indeed for any other purpose, when suddenly required. The object; is to defend our frontiers — not to recede in the slightest degree ; but certainly not to leave the lives and property of settlers in danger, while expensive expeditions are employed at places and in seasons which render it impossible to turn their services to any good account. The present proposals of the Government are that this Island shall be 'divided into several districts, to each of which a force shall be apportioned ; that the officers commanding in those districts shall be made — through the extension of the telegraph system and other facilities for communication — responsible directly to the Minister at the head of the Defence Department, receiving their instructions from him alone, and reporting to him as to the various operations which may appear to be necessary in their respective districts. The districts will be— the frontiers of the Waikato, which require constant vigilance and care on the part of the Government ; the district of Taranaki, which I am sorry to say is still exposed, as it has for many years been, to danger, from one side or the other ; the districts of Wanganui and Patea ; and the East Coast. The Government will also be under the necessity of affording protection to the friendly allies, both in the interior and at the Bay of Plenty. Considerable reforms and improvements may be effected in the matter of discipline. The Government believes that one well-discip-lined man is worth more than three or four withoub discipline ; and ib also believes that prevention is better than cure. From what We know of the state of the country, I am positive that if, at the beginning of the present difficulties, a small force such as the Governriienfc now contemplates had been stationed at each of the several points named, they would not have become nearly so "great aa they have been. Having fully considered the' character of the force which is most suited to the requirements of the country, and having come to the conclusion that the most suitable will be one which shall perform civil as well as military duties, the Government placed itself in communication with the Superintendent of Otago, who has kindly offered the services of the Commissioner of Police of that Province. That gentleman has been trained in the Irish Constabulary force ; aod it is the intention, in course of time, to reconstruct the Colonial force on the principle of the Irish Constabulary. I believe that such a force would be eminently successful, not only in.obtaining reliable information as to various movements in different parts ofthe country, but that, in the course of time, a thoroughly well organized and disciplined police would, in a. great measure, meet the difficulties with which we have to contend throughout this island. We hope to have the services of the Commissioner from Otago in the organization of such a force. If any Provincial Government in. the North Island should desire, hereafter, to avail itself of having its police under one uniform system, the opportunity of so doing will be afforded. We only throw out this as a suggestion for the consideration of the local authorities; but I I have no doubt that, if the system we con- | template should be found to work well, some at least of the provinces would be glad to avail themselves of a uniform system. This would be leading up to what has often been, urged in thia House as a necessity—ra uniformity in police administration throughout the country. Tlje . force will be altogether of a non-political charae-