The Star. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1881. MR. BRYCE'S RESIGNATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 79, 12 January 1881, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1881. MR. BRYCE'S RESIGNATION.

The best proof of Mr. Bryce's popularity as Native Minister is the general regret which one and all have at once and unhesitatingly expressed at his resignation. In spite of the persistent efforts which have been made by the Opposition Press to blacken, or at least to tarnish his character for political honesty and uprightness, the public of New Zealand have learnt to confide in Mr. Bryce's administration of native affairs. • On entering into office, he exposed, without hesitation, some of the greatest scandals, in connection with the native office, which have ever come to light in New Zealand. He set to work to devise some less costly system of administering native affairs ; and at once put his foot down in respect to the wasteful and extravagant expenditure, which was being carried on by the Grey Ministry, in the purchase of native lands. It should not be forgotten that he told the people when he first assumed office that he did so against his personal inclination and under pressure, because he hoped to be able to put an end to much that he thought objectionable in the conduct of native affairs. We have no hesitation in saying that, when it became known that Mr. Bryce had joined the Hall Ministry, the hopes of the Opposition declined down to zero ; now that he has resigned, it is probable that the same section of the Press, which hitherto reviled him, will feel so delighted at the blow, which Mr. Bryce's resignation has dealt the Ministry, that their eyes will be again opened to his virtues. As a politician, it will, perhaps, be remembered against him that his Native Land Sales Bill and the series of measures which accompanied it, and were, in fact, a part and parcel of the bill, fell through. But it is beginning to be recognised as a maxim, which the history of the last session has confirmed, that any Government, which sets itself vigorously to work to cut down expenditure and to retrench, must avoid new legislation. It necessarily makes so many enemies all round, slackens the bonds of amity with its friends, and generally creates an all-round spirit of secret, as well as open, discontent with its proceedings, that any legislative work which it may initiate will be received in such a spirit of captious criticism as would smother the best infant measure ever conceived. It is well known that Mr. Bryce's department needed no enquiry at the hands of the Civil Service Commissioners. They found that a tour of inspection had been made by the Undersecretary for Native Affairs, at the instigation of the Native Minister, and that, as a result of his tour, the number of native assessors and other sinecurists had been reduced enormously — by about half ' we think, if our memory Serves us right.

Without venturing to conjecture the causes which led up to the resignation, we may point out that the fact of the reappointment of the West Coast Commission, and the sort of dual authority in native affairs which its continuance necessitated, would naturally increase the difficulties of the Minister's position. The letter of the Governor to Te Whiti, and Mr. Parris' visit to Parihaka, were " probably opposed to the course of action which Mr. Bryce, if he alone had been consulted, would have favored. He knows — none better — that every concession made to uncivilised people is invariably regarded by the latter as a sign of weakness on the part of the conceder, and that Te Whiti forms no exception to the general rule. It is also certain that the ParL haka land, if offered for sale while Te Whiti preserves his present obstructive attitude, will be sold for very much below the market value it would have, if Te Whiti's prestige were lessened. The fencing, destruction of trig-stations, the impounding ol cattle and horses, and the constant contemptuous abuse and disapproval of all action taken by the Government, has been 6teadily persevered in by Te Whiti, and Mr. Bryce has shown that he recognises that there ought to be a limit to our patient endurance of these minor acts of rebellion against European authority.

It cannot be denied that any attempt to resent, or even to put an end to, such an unsatisfactory state of things, would be entirely opposed to the whole spirit and tradition of the Native Office. We have no hesitation in 6aying that Mr. Bryce's desire to take active measures against Te Whiti fairly represents the feeling which prevails almost unanimously along this coast. The settlers dislike, and are tired of being exposed to the continued and. ever-threatening risk of a murderous raid. They know that if resistance and

bloodshed should result from active measures against Te Whiti, it would mean ruin to many, and heavy losses to nearly all of those near the frontier. But they believe that some day or other the difficulty will have to be faced, and would gladly see it attempted now, even though the worst should happen. Te "Whiti is a man of peace to-day, but his tongue is a powerful weapon, and may be used as a sharp sword against the pakeha at any moment. The well-disposed Maoris know that this is so, and an old and intelligent Maori chief said in our hearing yesterday: "I think Te Whiti is the maker of trouble." It is somewhat strange that the same Maori, when the telegram announcing Mr. Bryce's resignation was translated to him, expressed no surprise. He said — " Te Whiti prophesied that. He said, at the beginning of last December, in an address to an assemblage inside one of the whares at Parihaka, that it was not worth while to treat with Bryce, because he would not be long in power, or in the Ministry." When Mr. Bryce was at Pungarehu, he offered to meet Te Whiti half way, but the prophet declined to leave Parihaka, because he wanted to treat with the Governor. Now, Te Whiti apparently declines to meet the latter; and at last even Mr. Bryce's patience has been exhausted. Te Whiti has been for years made so much of by the Native Office, by the Maoris, and by the Press, that although we regret, we cannot pretend to be surprised that Mr. Bryce's colleagues have refused to follow his advice to take active measures against Te Whiti. Though the colony cannot afford to lose his services, his resignation is the strongest possible protest against the continuance of an expensive and masterly inactivity.