Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 4

The Legislature, by one of its last Acts has determined to cancel the old licenses to interpreters, and to place the rolls on a footing more in accord with personal qualification, as well as that of social standing. The 29th clause of the Act reads thus: " All existing licenses to interpreters shall terminate on the 31st of December next, and new licenses, terminable at any time on revocation, shall be issued only to persons of approved moral character and proved knowledge of the Maori language." We believe that the Government will see that these conditions are complied with, viewed as they must be in relation to and affecting alike the interests of the European and native races. The question is new becoming an important one. While, then, the Government is endeavouring to discharge a duty it owes to the public, we venture to suggest that gentlemen who may be the recipients of a license should on their part take care that the rolls are in all respects kept intact; and to this end an association might be formed for mutual protection, for framing and adopting rules, etc., and generally, in a spirit or honourable competition, to secure a place in public estimation. We think also that an admission of two guineas and an. annual subscription of one guinea should be made available for this object, and that the removal or disqualification of any member should only follow on the motion of two or more responsible parties, certified to, and approved by a Judge of the Supreme Court before transmission to the Native Minister ; and further., that no officers on the Permanent Staff of the Native Land Court should be allowed on any pretence whatever to exercise the functions of a licensed Interpreter, or in any way accept any fee or reward on pain of dismissal. We comraend the subject to the consideration of all those who take an interest in the welfare and successful settlement of the country, and with it the ultimate prosperity of the colony as a whole.—There are, however, many difficulties in the carrying out of the proviso quoted above. Who is to judge as to the competency in respect of knowledge of the Maori language ? In the list of interpreters which has been published, there are the names of men whose competency is questioned. Then again, who is to act as moral censor, and to decide as to " character ?" Is that work to be done by the Native Minister for the time being 1 There have been Native Ministers in New Zealand who, according to common repute, could not themselves have obtained a certificate 'for "approved moral in every relation of life. It is clear that if the Native Minister decides on the gossip he may have heard, or on current rumour, he will often be wrong, and not seldom will be doing an injustice to persons. At all events, his knowledge will not be sufficient to enable him to act fairly ia_aU cases.. Men --wiU-

be punished by having the bread taken out of their mouths whose faults may be known tojthe Native Minister, while others, whose offences may be worse, but unknown to the Native Minister, will get their certificates. It is clear that the present system will not do. The license of any interpreter who behaves wrongly either to Europeans or Maoris, should be instantly revoked, but we do not think that the Native Minister should deprive a man of a license simply because lie is not married to the Maori or half-caste he is living with. To deprive him of his license it should be shown that he has done wrong in the profession whichhe seeks a license to carry on. The Native Minister is qualified to decide on that, although he may not be a suitable judge on other moral points. A lawyer could be thrust out of the profession if it were proved that he had been guilty of any fraud in the practice of his profession, but ho could not be disbarred because he lived with a mistress instead of a wife.