The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1861.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2482, 16 December 1868, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1861.

At the present time, when the colony is again involved in war, when the Treasury is empty and the revenue falling off, when further loans are impracticable, and we are brought face to face with the inevitable results of a self-reliance policy, it is not surprising to find that opinions differ very materially upon what is the best course to be pursued. On this point alone are men beginning to agree—that under the present system of colonization in the North Island, self-reliance is a grand mistake. North and South are alike beginning to recognise the fact that it is beyond the power of the colony to maintain by force a number of outlying settlements upon lands confiscated from the Natives. Those who still hold to the idea that the system can be maintained are at their wits' end to find the meaus wherewith to bolster up their falling creed. One cries out for British troops, auother offers himself as a military dictator and promises to sweep the island from one end to the other with a regiment of Goorkhas, while others, still more impracticable in their views, appeal to the united colony to take up arms and assert once and for all the superiority of the European race.

At such a time it is not inopportune \ to review tlie leading points of the past history of the self-reliance policy. A retrospective view of these events will serve to shew the utter hopelessness and absurdity of the panaceas which are now being propounded by those who insist most strongly upon the doctrines of unity and self-reliance. Their Native policy was fonuded on the theory that the colony should rely . upon its own resources to maintain peace. Tne interference of the Imperial Government was specially resisted, and the assistance of British troops peremptorily rejected. When Mr Weld, in 1865, established, this principle, the colony virtually pledged ; itself to maintain peace within its borders, But though it accepted the principle with the utmost enthusiasm, it soon became evident that it was im- , possible to carry it into practice. No sooner did the Assembly begin to count the cost, and look into figures, than it started back with dismay at the task it had undertaken. It was found totally impossible to maintain a force adequate to the work of subjugating the Maori race. After raising the Customs tariff to the highest practicable point, and imposing additional taxation in the shape of stamp duties, it became evident that the revenue did not admit of the maintenance of a permanent armed force. It was upon this question, in reality, that Mr Weld was defeated. And this was the first verdict delivered against self-reliance. In the following year, Mr Stafford's first Government again made a futile attempt to carry out the self-reliance policy. Mr Jollie, as Treasurer, proposed to devote the sum of £300,000 a year to the purposes of defence, and with more courage thau wisdom explained that he meant to raise the amount by depriving the provinces of their Bhare in the Customs reveuue. On that occasion, Mr FitzGerald moved an amendment to the effect that while the House recognised the duty of providing for the security of life and property, and the maintenance of peace, it did not perceive the necessity of creating a permanent military force.of the magnitude contemplated by the Government. Though the Stafford government did not fall by the motion of Mr FitzGerald, it fell for the reason contained in that motion. The House again declined to vote the money necessary for the maintenance of the peace of the colony; in other words, it declined to put the self-reliance theory into practice. Shortly after this, Mr Stafford reconstructed his Ministry by the admission of Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Eichmond, and Mr Hall. These gentlemen undertook the impossible task of carrying j out the principle of self-reliance without possessing the means to do it. Then began a system of shams. For eighteen months the colony was told that it might lay aside all fear of future insurrection on the part of the Natives, that peaco would in all probability become permanent and the lion at last lie down with the lamb. But all Bhams must sooner or later have an end, and in duo course this qhatn self-reliance utterly broke down. We need not take up the time of our readers by recapitulatingtheevents of the past four months. It is sufficient to point out that war is going on at both sides of the North Island, that the Maoris have hitherto carried all before them, that the Government has shewn the most signal incapacity to doal with the crisis, and that at the present moment a force is under arms on our side twice as numerous and twice as

eipensive as that asked for aud refused by the Assembly to Mr Weld or Mr Jollie. ■•. Vi'>

The result, then,, appears to be this. The Assembly, On two separate occasions, deliberately declared that it was altogether out of the power of the colony to maintain a permanent force sufficient to keep the peace securely in the North Island. But while it made this deliberate assertion, it was guilty of the solemn sham of endorsing the principle of self-reliance. It said —we will rely upon ourselves, hut we will have no army. Hence the present | difficulty. If it was right for the House to refuse Mr Weld and Mr Jollie the votes they required for the defence of the colony, it was equally their duty to provide in some other way for the security of the colony. If it was plaiu to the Assembly that the cost of an army was utterly beyond the capabilities of the colony, then it became their duty either to refer back to the Imperial authorities for assistance, or to insist upon the compulsory service of the local population, But the Assembly did nothing but trust to the promises of Mr Stafford and his colleagues, who readily accepted office upon the most impossible terms. The consequences may be already summed up. Before this war is over the colony will probably have spent as much as if it had paid £250,000 a-year for the last three years. But though this may be the case it does not follow that the House- was wrong in refusing to graufc the money. The mi«tako was, that it did not insist upon a change of system. And this will yet have to be considered. The colony has been surprised into auother huge waste of money. Another million will have to be borrowed to pay the bill, and further taxation must be imposed to meet the interest. Even then the source of evil will remain unchecked. The war may be smothered, but the Maori will still remain, and for years to come will need the exorcise of repressive force. After this bill is paid the question will recur with additional forcehow is the peace of the colonv to be maintained ? Who is to pay "for it ? Are we to have British troops or Goorkhas, or are the people of the North or South, or both, to do the fighting ?

The answer to these questions must come from the people. Not until the public recognise that their interests are so deeply involved as to render it necessary to form a decided opinion, will this great question ever be properly solved. At present, the colony is fast hastening to ruin. The conduct of the war becomes worse and worse as time progresses. The utter incapacity of the Government has never been more clearly demonstrated than in the last step they have taken. The removal of Colonel Whitmore and his troops to the East Coast has been a signal for the total collapse of the hitherto successful movements of Mr M'Lean. The friendly Natives actually disappeared at the mention of the name of Whitmore. And now, that gallant officer is to be at once sent back to Wanganui. Mr Eichmond hopes that in four or five months affairs on the West Coast will be settled, aud the troops be able to return to the East. We cannot share his hopes. Under the present management, we can see no prospect of the war being settled even in four or five years. Iu the meantime, fresh debts and difficulties are fast growing up around us. The war in the North is sucking the life blood of this island, Property is falling in value as fresh taxation looms in the distance, trade languishes, and people are thinkiug ever more and more of leavin" for more prosperous lauds. If selfreliance is not to be altogether cast to the winds, it must be placed on its proper footing. It has already been amply proved that the colony cannot, and will not, pay for a permanent armed force to maintain the settlements dotted oyer the North Island. It remains still to he proved whether the settlers there will withdraw into narrower limits and fight for themselves. Failing this, the alternative remains of throwing the North Island back upon tho Imperial Government. One tiling alone is absolutely certain amid all this confusion. If the present system of management is continued much longer, North aud South will be plunged together in one general irretrievable ruin.