STATEMENT BY MR. BALLANCE: TE WHITI IMPLICATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7694, 20 July 1886, Page 6

STATEMENT BY MR. BALLANCE: TE WHITI IMPLICATED.

In the House of Representatives yesterday Major Atkinson asked the Defence Minister (without notice) whether he would explain what had taken place on the West Coast, and what steps the Government had taken, or proposed to take, in order to render the law supreme in that district ? Mr. Ballance said the hon. member would have seen from the newspapers what had taken place with regard to the arrest of a number of natives, aud the forcible entry of the natives on to the land of the settlers. He read several telegrame he had received from Inapeotor Pardy, detailing what had occurred, and mentioned that the settlers had behaved with great determination, courage, and forbearance. The ringleaders had been sent to Opunake. Nine in all had been arrested. He might state that he had been advised that the criminal law was sufficient to deal with the whole difficulty, and the force at the disposal of the Government was ample to oope with any emergency that might arise on the coast. With regard to Te Whiti, he had received positive information that it waa on his advice the natives had acted, and on Saturday Tβ Whiti was warned that on his head tbe responsibility of any disturbance would rest. With regard to the measures to be taken by the Government in this matter, the hon. member would I excuse him from saying anything at present. I In answer to a further question by Major Atkinson, Mr. Ballance said the resources at the disposal of the Government were sufficient to cope with the difficulty. The Government had sent, in consequence of the prisoners having to be guarded at Opunake, a force of twenty permanent militia (constabulary) to take the place of those guarding the prisoners. He did not think there would be any further trouble. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs : —•• lem intormed by the Defence Minister that he does not anticipate any serious results from the attitude which has been aseumed by the nativee of the West Coast. He thinks the local f oroes will be ample to suppress any disorder. Reports received from Mr. Inspector Pardy and Major Roberts corroborate this view. It is uot thought to be much more than • a Maori' freak, although such freaks have sometimes a very unfortunate ending. The Hon. Native Minister, in answer to a question, informed the House that the law would be enforced against Titokowaru and Te Whiti. Several questions were put this evening to Mr. Ballance, but he only answered ; 'Tβ Whiti, if he be found gailty of having broken the law, muettake the consequences." .