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New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 18

Not the least interesting portion of Major Atkinson’s speech was. that which related to the Native policy of the present Ministry. It is a subject on which he is especially entitled to be listened to with respect and attention, for he knows well what he is talking about. He has the history of the past at his fingers’ ends ; he understands the Maoris thoroughly ; and he lives in a part of the country where there are the best means of procuring information concerning Native doings and Native temper and intentions. In short he possesses the materials for forming a trustworthy judgment as to what should be the Native policy in the present

and future. His commendation of Mr Bryce’s administration must be looked on as something of more importance than a passing and lightly uttered complimentary notice of a former colleague. The speech contained a rather elaborate criticism of Mr BAMiASTCE’s actions as Native Minister, and of his intentions as far as they have been made known. The conclusions arrived at were unfavourable to the new regime. Major Atkinson admitted at the outset that an outbreak, “though possible,”'was improbable, and he attributed that condition of affairs mainly to Mr Bryce, “ who made the Natives understand that when he said a thing he meant it. They did not like him, some of them, but they believed him.” A great deal has been recently written concerning the removal of the Armed Constabulary, and the effect the change has had on the Natives. Let us see what sort of testimony Major Atkinson gave on that part of the Native question. He said that the Natives still believe absolutely in Te Whiti ; that they are not following their usual avocations, but are parading the country ; that they are selling produce at ruinous prices to procure money ; and that Te Whiti still adheres to his prediction that the land is to come back to the Natives, and that they have faith in the story. Proceeding on the ground set forth in

that abstract, Major Atkinson said : 11 It seemed to him that the removal of the Armed Constabulary encouraged this belief, and was therefore a mistake. The Native belief seemed absurd to Europeans, but they must take into account the Native belief, and, in justice to the settlers, the Government were not justified in encouraging the Natives in the belief that the land was going back to them. It was true there was a force at Opunake to crush any trouble, but they did not want it to come to that.” It is the whole case in a nutshell. There is the possibility, but not the probability of an outbreak. By a little show of force on the spot —by giving the settlers a larger measure of police protection—the Natives would be made to understand that the predicted surrender of the land is an idle dream. As an equivalent for a small expenditure there would be a greatly increased feeling of security which could not fail to be of service in promoting the industry of the West Coast. Even though there should be no disturbance, the removal of the force is an extravagance because, by creating a feeling of insecurity, it has tended to lessen production amongst both Europeans and Natives. Major Atkinson’s views regarding the disposal of Native lands are in accord with what we have repeatedly urged in these columns. Mr BaMiANCE favours a very extended system of Native leasing, and Major Atkinson is strongly opposed to it. He said :—“ He understood the Government had a great Bill in preparation, which would have the object of creating a Maori aristocracy in this country by enabling them to lease whatever land they had more than they would require for their own use. If that were the intention he should certainly be found opposing it. He did not believe in creating Maori landlordism in this country any more than a European landlordism.” In November last Mr Baleance made a speech at Wanganui, and, as far as we were able to gather from the reports, he, at that time, favored the idea of the sale of Maori lands through'theagency of. Boards on which Native owners would be largely represented. Knowing, however, that only a year or two previously Mr. Bailance had expressed a strong opinion in favor of leasing such lands (which tenure he, strangely enough, looked on as identical with or akin to land nationalisation), we were doubtful about the genuineness, or at all events the permanence, of his later creed. We feared that he would return to the idea of wholesale leasing of Native lands, and we therefore pointed out that such a system had nothing in common with a system of leasing from the State, and was, indeed, diametrically at variance with it. “ If the land were nationalised, the State would hold in trust for the people, but that would not be the case if the country were settled under a system of Maori landlordism. We fully admit the advisability of conserving a sufficiently large landed estate for the use of the Native race. A great deal in that direction has already been done by creating inalienable reserves, and, if necessary, still larger blocks can be from time to time set aside. But beyond that we should be very sorry to see a Government lending itself to the creation of a race of Maori landlords,”' If Major

Atkinson is right, the change in Mr Baeeance’s expressed opinion has taken place. He has gone back to his former ideas, and will endeavour to persuade Parliament to adopt a scheme for leasing the King Country, or such portions of it as the Maoris do not require for their own use. We sincerely trust that on that point he will not meet with success. If there is to be leasing let the State be the landlord, but do not let us adopt a system which would make tbe Maori even less industrious and helpful than he is at present. Major Atkinson regrets the stoppage of the survey of the King Country which was began under Mr Bryce. He believes that the Government has made a great mistake in taking the land for the Central Railway before the title has been ascertained, and that the Colony will be put to an enormous expense in consequence. We are by no means prepared to say that such will be the case. The consent of the Natives generally was obtained, and we suppose that the price was roughly agreed upon. Under the circumstances, the Legislature will no doubt take care that nothing beyond an equitable price is paid, and we do not suppose that the Natives will be inclined to stand in their own light. On the whole, we with, the justice of Major Atkinson’s. criticism of the present Native Policy. It would have been better iif Mr Ballance had kept, to the lines laid down by his predecessor.