MR. J. BALLANCE ON NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 114, 18 May 1881, Page 4

MR. J. BALLANCE ON NATIVE AFFAIRS.

In his speech at Wanganui, Mr. Ballance spoke as follows in reference to Native affairs :—": — " Last session the Government brought down a Bill for the further detention of the native prisoners. That Bill was opposed by . many members, who did not deem it just to keep in cußtody men without trial. Knowing something about Maories and native troubles on this Coast, he felt bound to support the Government on that question, as he thought large powers should be granted to them in the interests of peace. The recent action of the Government in native matters had caused much, discussion, and Mr. Bryce had resigned, as he had told them, in consequence of a difference of opinion in the Cabinet with respect to the policy to be pursued. He (Mr. Ballance) was thoroughly in accord with Mr. Bryce in his vigorous native policy, biit he could not understand wby it was postponed from October 1879, to early in 1881. Before Mr. Bryce took office, his great charge against the Grey Ministry was that when they had the Armed Constabulary organised they did not go at once to Parihaka, and demand Hiroki. Well, Mr. Bryce went into office with the Armed Constabulary at his band, but he did not go to 1 Paribaka as he said Sir George Grey should have done. No— batches of prisoners were taken away, but the murderer was allowed to remain at large. Now, the real explanation of that conduct was that (A voice : Not backed up). Yes, exactly, Mr. Bryce was not backed up. The real Native Ministers were the members of the Eoyal Commission. They had, on the one hand, a peace policy advocated by the Royal Commissioners, and on the other, not exactly a war policy, but a vigorous policy advanced by Mr. Bryce, who allowed himself to be over-ruled, and held back. There was also another person behind the throne, greater than the throne itself, in the person of the well-known and influential Mr. Parris, who moulded the native policy. He (Mr. Ballance) could not understand why the letter from the Governor to Te Whiti. emanating as it must have done from the Native Minister, inviting the chief to partake of his Excellency's hospitality, either at Wellington or at any place Te Whiti might select, and the harmless, colorless reply to it that "the potato was cooked," should have been followed immediately by a proposal to take an armed force to Parihak'a. The time for snch a manifestation of force had then passed, for the Governor's letter indicated a peace policy, and to have marched a force to Parihaka at the heels of a friendly invitation would have been condemned throughout the civilised world. (Mr. Ballance then referred to the fact that the land in the Parihaka block was not being freely taken up, and said that the block should have been settled by pioneers of a sturdy class, on terms including occupation and defence.) Instead of that course being adopted, a high price was put on the land, and deferred payment men encouraged to bid one against the other. Whether the percentage to the Taranaki Harbor Board had any connection with the high price of the land he could not say. No one would deny that the present expense of the Armed Constabulary was burdensome to the colony; but they had been told that if they were not on the Plains, they would be wanted elsewhere. He failed to see where, and thought they might be reduced. They had been told that the last Government had recommended that the whole of the confiscated land should be restored, and the statement was based upon a letter from Mr. to Sir George Grey. Two members of a Ministry did not constitute the whole of the Government, and he could state that the last Government had not recommended the giving back of the land. He would not say that it was wrong to give back some of the land, but before doing so, he would have made such terms as would have ensured permanent peace on the coast. Last session the Government had brought down a series of Bills affecting the Native Lands. One Bill, the Native Land Court Bill, was similar in spirit to the Native Land Court Bill of 1877 brought in by Mr. Whitfcaker, and had been framed in the interests of the speculators, men with money who could distribute " ground bait among the natives. Another measure was the Native Land Sales Bill, which was intended to be a protective measure in the interests of settlement. It, however, differed very materially to the measure sketched by Mr. Bryce in 1879, who advocated then the formation of a Board composed half of natives, and Me other half of Europeans, in whom the natives had confidence. The Native Land Sales Bill, however, provided that the Waste Lands Board should be the Board, and when the measure' was introduced it was found to give satisfaction to neither the natives nor the House. It was altogether different to the Bill sketched by Mr. Bryce in his speech in Wanganui. The Native Land Court Bill was first brought in, and it went through quickly. He (Mr. Ballance) never saw such interest shown, such log rolling he might say, to get the Bill through, but when the Sales Bill, the protective measure, was introduced, the interest changed. An amendment was moved by Mp> Reader

Wood, to the effect that the word " shall," referring to the natives selling their land through the medium of the Board, should be altered to "may." This amendment clearly opened the way to free tiadein native lands, aid he (Mr. Ballance) saw the danger. It was rejected by 34 to 25, and 15 Government supporters were found in the minority. The opposition to the measure was determined, and the Bill was practically withdrawn, the Premier observing : — " I regret very much this Bill has not met with the support of some hon. members from whom we generally receive a generous support, and I regret still more that it lias been opposed by the members representing the Maori race." They knew why the supporters of the Government, the friends of the speculators, opposed the measure, and they knew that the Maori members opposed it because they had no confidence in the constitution of the Board. He accepted the Bill as a step in the right direction, and gave it his earnest support, although he pointed out that the constitution of the Board was not satisfactory.