THE NATIVE PROBLEM

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1913, Page 4

THE NATIVE PROBLEM

It will undoubtedly be a very great relief if Mr. Herries is able to find in the light of the greater experience he is now seeking that his suspicions k. regard to the native problem being " bogus " are warranted. Speaking at Whangarei on Tuesday he gave us to understand he was inclined to imagine that this would-, prove to be the case. Seeing, however, it is only a day or two since Mr. Herries had to confess that the question of rating native lands appeared an " insuperable " problem there is at least reason to fear that the honorable gentleman will not find the native question one of absolute simplicity to de;'.l with. He has, of course, during the last few weeks addressed himself to the matter in terms that are, generally speaking, unexceptional, but we are very much afraid that he has not yet made quite clear to the community exactly what is in his mind. Unfortunately his colleague representing the native race, the Hon. Dr. Pomade, is rather less illuminative. Both have at times spoken for instiincv of " Europeanising" the Maori, and of "one law for all," but whr.t this means, and how far it would gc when reduced from current phrase to the language of the law draftsman :s the point on which we must apparently await information. Does Mr. Herries contemplate a policy that would come strictly within the meaning of these words or one that would only do so with very definite reservations in regard to placing the natives in a position of complete equality with Europeans in dealing with their lands? Hitherto the generally expressed intention of Ministers has been to favour a policy of what may be termed " partial liberation" only— that is to say, that the Maori would not be allowed to. dispossess himself of the whole of his land—that in cases only where the Maori retained suffiaient land for his maintenance would he be given the privilege of disposing of the surplus in the same way as the European. To some extent this is the law now, and, clearly, some such provision against the complete pauperisation of the native race is unquestionably necesary. But apart from the absolute Europeanisation sometimes suggested, there is in the removal of existing anomalies and delays, that are a mere irritation to Maoris and pakehas and act as a drag on progress, ample scope for useful reform, and it is in this direction that the Minister will, we think, be able to perform the most lasting service. The " European " project and the creation by stroke of the pen of •' one law for all " are not quite so simple as some people imagine. The political difficulties in the way ar-2 enormous.