NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI.

SIR G. O'BRIEN'S STATEMENT. LETTER FROM MR. CHAMBERLAIN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellixgtojt, Monday. The Governor has received a despatch covering a copy of the following letter from Mr. Chamberlain to Sir G. T. O'Brien, Governor of Fiji, also permission from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to publish it:—

" Downing-street, December 28, 1900. I ! haTe the honour to acknowledge receipt of J your despatch No. 87, of October 24. -for- ; warding a report of your speech to the naI t Ives at the opening of the Waini Bokast 1 Hospital. I fully recognise the difficulty | in which you are* placed by the tactics of [ those who endeavoured to foment disconI tent amongst the natives to further their j schemes for political change, and the desira- : bility of taking prompt action to counteract them. Unfortunately, however, the language used by you on this occasion was open to misconstruction, and has been garbled and distorted by press summaries so as to give umbrage to the Government of New Zealand. Ido not gather from a perusal of you* speech that you are fully informed as to elaborate and carefully-considered measures which have been passed by the Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of the Maoris against alienation of their lands, by placing them under the control of an independent and impartial Court, while, at the same time, they have been given representation in proportion to their numbers in the Legislature. Whatever may have taken place in early days of New Zealand settlement, when Maoris were freely allowed to alienate their lands, the result of these measures has been that relations between the white and Maori inhabitants of New Zealand are of the most harmonious character, and the Maoris fully appreciate the care and anxiety displayed by the Government and Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of their interests, and the conservation of their land. I have too much confidence in your discretion to think that you would willingly use- language, which could be regarded as unfavourable criticism on the Administration of another part of His Majesty's dominions, and I am sure that you will join with me in regretting that some passages in your speech were open to misconstruction.—J. Chamberlain."