THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT AND NEW ZEALAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1094, 22 October 1869, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT AND NEW ZEALAND.

(From the "Independent," October 7.) "Theee the subject dropped," is the significant conclusion to the reports of long and animated debates in both Houses of the English Parliament on New Zealand affairs. A great deal is implied in these words. They mean that the best friends of New Zealand, although they see the necessity of assisting the colony, are utterly unable to propose any practicable method of doing so. We can hardly wonder that it is so. The difficulties which lie in the way of the New Zealand sympathiser at houic are great. The proposals of such indiscreet friends as the Bishop of Lichfield are prima facie too impracticable to be worth the trouble of debating. Our own Government refused to accept of Imperial aid in the shape of troops ; and lastly, a Government with a majority of 120 in the House of Commons, though "willingto render every possible assistance within the rules laid down," lays down the rule that no assistance in money by guarantee of loan shall be afforded to the colony. Nothing, in fact, could be extorted but a promise of advice which Mr. Monsell "would take care should be communicated to the Colonial Government, as well as the valuable suggestions made in the course of the debate." The "valuable suggestions " are to withdraw our outsettlers, which means depopulation; to give up our Constitution, which means to return to the old days of mis-rule ; or to restore the confiscated land, which simply means an acknowledgment of the Maori as the superior power in. the colony. We cannot wonder, with such topics for debate, that the discussion was merely conversational, and that in the House of Commons, as well as in the House of Lords, "the subject dropped." But after all, these conversations and the tone of the papers at home shew that New Zealand has plenty of friends, but they want direction as to the shape we desire their active efforts to take. The worst of our enemies have been those of our own household, who place it out of the power of our friends to obtain a legitimate aid from a Ministry " not unwilling to render assistance," but forced by the colony itself to refuse it in the shape of Imperial troops. The letter from Mr. Adderley to the Times, which is reprinted elsewhere in our columns, adds to the mass of evidence declaratory of the fact that the proposed removal of the troops, is entirely owing to the late Government. It is satisfactory to the Colony to learn that the responsibility undertaken by General Chute is not likely to be the means of drawing on him the censure of the Colonial Office. Mr. Addorley, who is allowed always to speak authoritatively on colonial matters, does not hesitate to say that "New Zealand can now, if necessary, pay for a few regulars, and at about half cost price." The cost price, if they are used for garrison purposes in New Zealand dep6ts, should certainly be less than if the same troops were remaining at home. These conversational debates shew that though some of the members have coached themselves up in the history of the colony, they have little real idea of New Zealand politics. The Home Government and its supporters constantly assert, without contradiction, their irresponsibility in native affairs when Governor Gore Browne commenced the Taranaki war ; and not one of the advocates of New Zealand's claims on account of Colonial Office mismanagement of the natives puts forth the telling fact, that our first act when New Zealand assumed the control of the natives was to give the Maoris absolute control over their lands. The late Government so loudly asserted their cry of self-reliance, that a general feeling seems to prevail, of the intention of their successors in office to throw themselves entirely on the Home Government for protection. An impression which the Commissioners will not be slow to remove. The fact is, that New Zealand wants nothing of the Home Government except suchinexpensiveassistanee as her filial relation to England fully entitles her to ask. Why should the Home Government not guarantee a loan ? Evidently because it has not faith in the resources of the country if peace and public confidence is restored. , Why should the present inhabitants of the colony bo forced to bear the I whole burthen of the pacification of the country? Probably because the Home Government is not aware that the colony is being built up on the absolute ruin of most of its presenb settlers. And can any valid objection be raised to the removal of the depot of one or two regiments from England to New Zealand if the colony is willing to pay any difference in cost occasioned by the removal ? Certainly not, if it is understood that they shall only be used for garrison purposes, and may be withdrawn if required in case of a great Imperial war. There never was a time when a proposal for a Colonial Conference was more opportune. We would go further, and say that, in order to assist the Imperial Parliament in dealing with her important dependencies, the colonies ought to be represented in the Houses of Parliament. We should not then see " the subject dropped " from simple want of knowledge of the facts on either side.