NEW ZEALAND FIJI

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4303, 12 March 1901, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FIJI

SIR GEORGE O’feRIEN’S SPEECH. *

A LETTER FROM MR, QHAipERLAIN The Government has received from the Secretary. fpr„ the. CMbhiesVA a forwardediby him ® lr George, O’Brien, Governor-obFiji,’ with reference s tp .the .speech -in'.-which hxs Excellency commented upon NewZealand’s treatment of the Maori inhabitants of the colony. The text of the despatch is as follows

. r 28ifi December, 1900. % Dear Sir,-—I hare. T th© honour to,hcknowledge thd receipt- of your despatch No. 87, of the 24th* October, forwarding a report of yobr fepOech to'the Natives at the' opening of theWkinibokksi Hospital. if ” 1 r *' jo A “ '; 1 "■ 1 2. I fully recognise, tier,difficulty in which you were placed/by, the-tactics of these.who'efndeavoured to foment discontent amongst,, the natives to further their schemes.dor political;change, 'ind the desirability of taking' prompt action to counteract them. 3. Unfortunately, the -language used ,by you on this occasion was opdn to misconstruction, aiad has been garbled and distorted by press 'Summaries so aa torgive umbrage, to -ithe Government of New Zealand .- Tdo not gather from a perusal of your spceeh that you are fully informed as to the elaborate and carefully-considered measures which have been by the Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of thel Maoris against the alienation of their land by placing them under the control of an independent and impartial CJourt, while at the. same time they have been- givenrepresentation in proportion to their numbers in the Legislature. 4. Whatever may have taken place in the early days of New Zealand settlement, when the Maoris were freely allowed to alienate thedr 'lands, the result of these measures has been that the relations between the white and Maori inhabitants of New Zealand 'are of th«f most harmonious character, and the Maoris fully appreciate the care aid anxiety displayed by tbe'Governmeht and Legislature of New Zealand for the protection of their interests and the conservation of their lands.

, 5. I hare too much confidence in vour discretion to think that von would willingly use language which could be : regarded as unfavourable criticism on the administration of another part of her dominions, and I am sure that you will join with me in regretting that some passages in your speech were open to misconstruction.—l have, etc., ' (Signed) • , , CHAMBERLAIN. Governor Sir G. T. M. O’Brien, K.0.M.6., etc., eta. <.t The contents of this communication have been published by- express permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.