SELLING ARMS TO NATIVES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5679, 12 June 1879, Page 2

SELLING ARMS TO NATIVES.

(rEU PKES3 AGENCY.) Auckland, Wednesday. A correspondent at Waikato writes “ During the late Maori meeting a storekeeper, who was licensed to sell arms, sold several double-barrelled guns and ammunition to the natives, the license being duly signed by a J. P. One J.P. was asked to sign the license, but he refused to do so. However, they, soon got another. I was told that eleven guns were sold in one week, and those very guns were seen afterwards among the King natives at the meeting, and possibly they may be now at Taranaki. The Act says arms must not be sold to rebel natives. I consider natives rebels who resist the Queen’s writ, and shelter and protect murderers.” ■ The Star, commenting on this, says that the statement is calculated to arouse feelings of uneasiness, and refers to the Kaffir war as proof of the dangerous conseouences of relaxation. Precautions should be taken against supplying arms to aboriginal races. It- adds that, anything tending to show any laxity on the part of the Government, or indifference in prevent: ing infringement of the Arms Act, would be a: serious indictment against the Ministry; but after careful-inquiry, the Star sees no reason to believe that the rigid provisions of the Arms Act arc nut beiag enforced, and says that its special reporter at Te Kopua made a careful examination of the arms in - the possession of Tawhiao’s so-called army, and estimated them' at ISO guns,, the majority being old, and their number included three or four Enfields, some fowling-pieces, and a few sporting rifles, a half

dozen revolvers, some old horse-pistols, two infantry officers’ swords, one cavalry sabre with steel scabbard. About 40 men of the “ army” had only long sticks or spears. '-The reporter estimated that 3u marksmen with Sniders would he more than a match for Tawhiao’s entire guard. The Kingites stated that Moffat made three tons of coarse gunpowder, which is stored inland. The natives were very sparing of powder at the Lake meeting. The Star says that the correspondent is right in stating that arras were sold to th« natives during the continuance of the meeting, but not on the authority of a J.P. Whether wisely or not, the permits must have been issued with the sanction of a member of the Government, and no relaxation of the regulations under the Arms Act would relieve the head of the Native Department of direct responsibility for the sale of arms to the natives, nor would it be accepted as satisfactory. The matter too nearly affects the peace of the country to allow of any intermediate authority. The Ministry of the day must he held responsible for every gun which, either by permit or negligence in enforcing the restriction, finds its way into the hands of the natives, and it would give additional assurance to the public and afford a check on the operations of the Department if returns were presented to Parliament each year of the names of natives to whom permits for arms, and powder have been issued.