THE EX-COLONIAL SECRETARY ON NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 19, 16 June 1880, Page 4

THE EX-COLONIAL SECRETARY ON NATIVE AFFAIRS.

In speaking to the Address in Reply, In the Legislative Council, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore is reported in Hansard to have made the following remarks in reference to the Native difficulty :—: — I think the Government may be congratulated upon the circumstance that they were not called upon, in grappling with the difficulty, to make bricks without straw. In 1868 Ihjid a similar difficulty to contend with on that same coast, and, had I been provided with the same materials which this Government have had at their hands, I should have been able to do not only much more than I did, but also more than has been accomplished lately, because we then did know what we had to do ; whereas on this occasion no person, however thoroughly versed in native matters, can tell from day to day what may happen, nor can any one now say what will be the outcome of what the Government are doing. In his recent speech the Premier cli»med great credit for the Native M uister's administration, and for the firm, courageous attitude he had assumed in dealing with the natives. Now I am quite willing to accord the Native Minister credit for his courage. I believe that no more single-hearted or determined Minister has ever had the management of our native affairs, or has gone into the matter more earnestly or more honestly than that honorable gentleman. Sir, in taking the implement which was ready to his hand, and in making use of that implement on the Plains, throwing down the glove to Te Whiti, who might presumably be regarded as a person who was inciting others to break the peace, I think he showed that he would not be intimidated, and that the country was determined to carry out the law of the land. In his policy of reduction of expenditure and doing away with that paternal government which has been the curse of the country, he has shown at once courage and an indifference to popularity and to backstairs influence which I could well wish all statesmen that we have had in this colony had always manifested. The Hon. the Premier said, the other day at Leeston, that our chief diiaculties were caused by what may be called the interpreter clique in* this colony. Sir, for ten years past we have been prevented from being in a proper position with the natives by that clique. In the year 1869, when we were almost at the end of our efforts to bring about a satisfactory understanding between the two races, it was that clique which stood between the natives and peace in this country. It was that clique which prevented us from carrying out the law of the land wheu we had borne and suffered, fought and bled. That clique then stepped in, and the difficulty remained unsettled. At that time I said, in my place here, that I would not offer any opposition to that policy of flour and sugar. I said, "Let it go on, till it falls by its own weight." It has now fallen, and its fall is received with approbation from one end of the colony to the other. I think we have arrived at that stage when we may cease to treat the question as a party one, and that henceforth we shall be able to carry out the law of the land. I read that as the intention of the Premier. I understand that he is determined to carry out the law equally with regard to both races ; and I understand, further, that, now he is strong enough to do it, he will be firm. Ido not mean that he should be guilty of cruelty, or of doing anything unjust. It is not the strong who are cruel and unjust ; it is the weak. I believe wo shall now be able, and I entreat the Government to carry out the law, so that we may feel that there is no distinction between the natives and the Europeans ; that the native will pay his rates and his taxes the same as the European ; that we shall not be under tribute to the native race ; that we shall no longer see felonies compounded in this colony ; that the natives shall in all respects be treated as we are; and that we shall not stand on an inferior platform to that race. That, I understand, is. what the Government intend to do, and so long as they proceed in that line of policy they will have my unmixed support. If the Government proceed in the manner that I understand it is their intention to do, directly and indirectly I shall do all I can to support a policy like that. It was my privilege during the recess to go on a private roaming commission, and I roamed down to the West Coast and saw the troops there, and the steps that were being taken in that part of the colony. It will, I think, give some satisfaction to the country if I state that I do not believe any exception can be taken to the force in that locality as regards physique, character, and suitability for anything they may be called upon to perform, or to the manner in which they are used by the Government, and the work they do. I thiuk the esprit of the force is admirable ; that the work they are called upon to perform, which, as a rule, soldiers have a dislike to — namely, pickaxe work — they do as well as any navvies that could be got. They throw their heart into it. The manner in which these men perform their duty reminds me of what was said of the brigade of Guards at the siege of Badajoz — namely, that, through its high esprit, it did its work properly, and did it well, which no other corps could be

got to do. That makes me feel that our colonial force at the present time must rank -very well as a military body. Sir, I feel quite certain of this : that in no possible eventuality need the country be the least afraid, be the alternative submission or war.. I feel certain that any outbreak that could possibly occur could at once be put down with the greatest ease, because we are now properly prepared; and should not rush into the struggle in the way we did in 1868. We all know the character of the force we had then to deal with. They were taken out of the streets one day and put into the bush the next, and were not at all the class of force that was likely to make the struggle short, sharp, and decisive. The present force, on the contrary, are thoroughly trained and excellent troops. Mr. Hall said, in his speech at Leeston, contrasting — which I regretted to see so much of in his speech — his action with that of his predecessor, that he found the troops in barracks, whereas he put them into the field. Why were they in barracks ? I will tell him why. In the year 1876, when the Hon. Dr. Pollen was on the Treasury benches, I took occasion to tell him that the reduction then proposed in the Armed Constabulary was too sweeping, and that there would not be sufficient men left for the protection of the North . I felt so strongly on the subject that I recurred to it more than once, as I find on looking over Hansard, and the answer given to me was not altogether satisfactory. That answer was that it was intended to unite the police and the Armed Constabulary, and that in the event of war the ordinary police would be drafted into the force placed in the field. I was convinced, and said so at the time, that any such plan would fail, because ordinavy police, though useful in one duty, would not be useful in another. When the troubles began in Taranaki, they arose out of the removal of surveyors, and we really had not more than about 150 men available for the protection of that district. Nobody could tell on what side — Patea or Taranaki— the trouble would break out, and it was necessary, therefore, to divide that force. Under the circumstances, it was necessary to enrol more men, and — as I never would again be a party to throwing responsibility on any man snch as that which devolved upon myself in 1868, that of undertaking to prosecute a war with untrained men — I should not have been willing to have sent them into the field before July la-st, at least if such a step could be avoided without risking life and property in the district, as they needed time to be properly trained for active service in the field. I notice that, amongst the papers laid before Parliament in the first session of last year, there is a paper from Mr. FitzGerald, who was at one time Native Minister, which states specifically that 200,000 acres of the confiscated land were to be set aside as an endowment tor the Armed Constabulary. We are told that there are a million acres of suitable land available on that coast, and I would urge the Government to do that now. I think it would be a more beneficial thing for this country if that fifth of the land were taken for that purpose, than if it were plunged into New Plymouth harbor. That would relieve the revenue, and we should not hear so much about thi3 dC6OO a day. That is not a fair thing to say, or to taunt the Government with. We all knew last year, when the vote was passed, that .£IBO,OOO a year for two years would be devoted to the object of establishing peace in the colony, and maintaining the Constabulary Force in the threatened districts. We knew the money would be spent and would be required, at all events until the natives submitted. And, Sir, I believe that when we see the accounts we shall find that that figure has not been exceeded. If by a display of force, and in a peaceful manner, we can obtain that unconditional surrender which we must have, and without which we can have no peace in this country, it is a great deal better than obtaining it by war. It may take more time ; I have no doubt it will take more time ; but it will be the better way of obtaining a lasting peace between the natives and Europeans of this colony. By obtaining that unconditional surrender without a waT there will not be the same reason for ill-blood towards our race on the part of the natives, and, in addition to that, the natives will appreciate the forbearance we have shown them. But, Sir, if we are to obtain peace, I am quite sure we must show that we are strong; and any agitation to induce the Government to reduce the force until the difficulty is over would be exceedingly mischievous and unpatriotic. Well, Sir, in discussing this subject, I come naturally to the Royal Commission on the difficulties upon the West Coast. It is impossible to shut one's eyes to the extremely partisan character of the gentlemen selected for that Commission. At the same time, nobody who is familiar with the history of this f country can deny the claims which those gentlemen have to the respect of the people of this colony, nor can any one deny the extensive experience which both gentlemen have had in public affairs. Nevertheless, I think it is to be regretted that gentlemen who have been connected, directly or indirectly with the confiscation on the West Coast, should have been put on that Commission at all. I should myself much prefer to have seen a

simple, plain, business-like report presented, such as that which we had last year from the honorable gentleman who is now Native Minister — a report from somebody altogether impartial — because it is impossible to glance over this interim report, which I never saw in an authorised form until now, without reading mea culpa, all the way through it. These gentlemen knew that there has been, -from the very first, a neglect of settling this matter ; that there has been a running away from it all round which has been anything unt creditable to this colony j and I think it a pity there should be any partisan colouring in this report, because, as the honorable gentleman who seconded the Address said, it looks like an attempt to shift the burden to other shoulders. My shoulders are not very broad, but they are broad enough to accept any blame in respect of my conduct in the matter ; and, watching the proceedings of that Conimibsion, I was struck with the extraordinary similarity between what happened to them and to the late Native Minister. Meetings were held with the natives, the same chiefs were present, the same things were repeated, and the Commissioners were requested to go to Parihaka ; and it was only at the last moment that they resolved not to go there. If they had gone to Parihaka, I take it for granted they would have met the same reception as Mr. Sheehan, and that they would have experienced the same difficulty in quoting Scripture texts with Te Whiti. But I confess that, reading the report as I did in the public prints, I felt that we were likely to bring upon ourselves a very great danger in future by a too liberal return of confiscated land to the most inveterate and blameworthy of our native opponents in this country. I am glad to say that opinion has been modified to some extent by the explanation 1 have since received. I think now that the quantity is not unreasonable, and that it ought to have been returned many years ago. I feel that, in that respect, the Commissioners have only done what was their duty, and what the country expected from them ; and we have the satisfaction of fee ing that, putting aside all disputed questions between this Ministry and that, these two gentlemen have recommended a specific course of {action, which nobody seems now disposed to impugn. Therefore, after all, we have been fortunate in obtaining the services of two stich gentlemen to inquire into and report upon this matter. I would go further than that, and say that the colony is under a great obligation to them, because it was a difficult and thankless task they undertook, and anybody who knows the honorable member of this Council who was one of the Commissioners must know that, once he threw himself into the woi-k, he would not flinch from the task because ifc was a very laborious one. But Ido dislike one or two little passages in the report. There are one or two Uriah Heap sort of humble expressions, such as that, if we do not disturb Te Whiti, perhaps he will not disturb us, and so on. I say he dare not disturb us. We do not owe, and I hope we never shall owe, our peace to his forbearance, or to that of any other native.