THE TRANSVAAL AFFAIR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8425, 23 January 1896, Page 3

THE TRANSVAAL AFFAIR.

THE CASE FOR THE UITLANDERS. “ Nemo ” in the Dunedin Star says Suppose now that when the Europeans came to New Zealand the found the Maoris intelligent and coheient enough to govern the country after a fashion, and for a time strong enough to assert their dominance. Then conceive the Europeans pouring in to work the newly discovered goldfields until the white population amounted to six times that of the Maori; paid nearly all the taxes, and contributed neaidy all the wealth. Suppose also this white population from highest to lowest denied the franchise,allowed no say whatever in the government of the country, reaping small benefit from the expenditure of their own taxes, and compelled to send their children to schools where Maori was aught instead of English. Would we tolerate such a state of things ? Ought we to tolerate such a condition of affairs ? By no means ; the idea is ludicrous ; revolution would become a duty, and continued forbearance a political sin. Well, that represents the state of affairs in the Transvaal at the present time. The comparison indeed, is favourable to the rights of Maori rule, for the Maoris were at least the aboriginal owners, whereas the Boers are trespassers like ourselves.