THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1882.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6201, 1 October 1881, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1882.

The Government have shown such sound judgment in the management of native affairs as to inspire general public confidence in their proceedings. But there is a good deal of anxiety to know what they are going to do now. Whilst recruits for the Armed Constabulary are being enlisted right and left, Mr. Rolleston reports to his colleagues that all is peace at Parihaka. But if that is so, if there is no need for an addition to the number of the force, why is there all this fuss and expense? If nothing is to be done with Parihaka—that hotbed of scares —and Te Whiti be left to add another to-morrow to that which yesterday caused so much commotion, it would appear that the Government has acted precipitately in raising the new levies, and that the country will have to pay the piper in a very large sum. It seems incredible that the Government should have so greatly exaggerated the peril of the hour, or have been so entirely without a defined policy that matters are to remain as they were, plus a large addition, to the expenditure of the country. The forces once increased cannot be at once reduced, and if they could be Te Whiti would have to utter only a few hostile words, and the same farce might be gone through again. It would be a very serious matter to propose a recourse to force to suppress a nuisance if it could by any means be avoided ; but it seems to us that the colony must be rid of that constant dread of attack from Parihaka which necessitates the maintenance of a large armed force at all times, with periodical increases whenever Te Wliiti chooses to be mischievous. It is not simply that the colony is at his beck and nod, but that he can put it to heavy expense whenever the humour takes him. It is at his mercy. If his utterances be peaceful "all's wellif he be minatory all is alarm. Can that be endured ? Can it be tolerated that he should be allowed to play fast and loose, creating alarm at one moment, and then baffling an endeavour to grapple with the cause by saying that he did not mean when he had achieved all the benefit of the effort. No one will dispute that it is desirable the utmost forbearance should be shown in dealing with the Maoris, and that much should be left to time, that great solver of difficulties. But that policy presumes a condition of rest, and Te Whiti gives us nothing but unrest. It is true that he does not fire a shot, but he leaves us to believe that he may or will, and the result is the same, less the bloodshed. Amongst ourselves if a neighbour show bellicose tendencies he can be bound over to keep the peace. This Maori cannot be dealt with in that way, but we have a right to take security from him, to insist that we 1 shall not be the victims of his good pleasure. If after the reinforcing of the constabulary nothing is to be done, Te Whiti, short of taking arms, can do what he please with impunity. That has been his advantage up to the present time. It is true there was the episode of the Maoris imprisoned for ploughing and fencing, and although it was the only tiling to be done, how impotent lias it proved. The country has been at the expense of keeping the prisoners, suffering to that extent in addition to the force maintained at the Plains. Then they | were released, returned to Parihaka, were made heroes of, and Te Wliiti, laughing in his sleeve, comes off unscathed. That is a very one-sided game, and may be continued indefinitely. A few days since there was more fencing. Is there to be no end of this thorn in our side, and is it unreasonable or rash to urge that it should be ended ? The Government ought to take an honest, straight look at this matter. If it can justify the conclusion that the colony should submit, continue to pay, and hope for the best, there will be an eager desire to accept it. But there is no hope that so long as he can act with impunity he will desist from being a trouble and anxiety. The conduct of Te Whiti's followers is supposed to be restrained by his will, but no one will believe that whilst this is generally true it is entirely so. No one will doubt that under some set of circumstanccs one of his followers may strike a fatal blow, caused by the attitude of Te Whiti, though neither desired nor instigated by him. It cannot be said that some settler, impelled by exasperation, may not strike a heavier blow that he intended. The case of the settler Daniels is an apt illustration. It has been attempted to get rid of his statement, but it is evident that its truth cannot be disputed. He is a respectable man, he has made a statu tory declaration, he has had to fly from his holding. He has a struggle with the Maori, overpowers him, being a powerful man, but lie might have been laid low by the axe, or have destroyed his antagonist. When fire is played with some one is likely to be burnt. We live over a volcano, with no prospect of its becoming extinct, but the chance that at any time there may be an eruption. The case of the man Daniels, thealarmcreated throughout the colony, the hurrying to and fro of Ministers, the necessity for arming and for wasting valuable money show that there should be an end of this. We have a right to have an end of it after showing a long forbearance worse than barren of any satisfactory result. The colony will have to make up its mind sooner or later, and why not now 1 It is not absolutely certain that a march on Parihaka would mean a conflict. It is quite within the bounds of probability that Te Whiti would still maintain the martyr's role. There is one position which would justify the Government in continuing inaction. If they can show that Te

! Whiti and his band removed from their, i nest, the exasperation evoked ■would #: !necessitate the maintenance of as large an armed force as at present, they may contend that, as ; the future would be no better than the present, there is nothing to be gained by action. Something would of course be gained. Te Whiti's influence would be destroyed, the danger would be removed from the settler's door, the power of the Europeans would be seen. "We therefore do not counsel a march on Parihaka, but we do say that unless the Government are convinced that the last state of affairs would be as bad as the first— unless they are cognisant of dangers with which the public are not familiar —then we do say that energetic steps should be taken promptly to suppress the long-standing nuisance of Te Whiti and Parihaka.