THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Southland Times, Volume 3, Issue 102, 16 October 1863, Page 3

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

(Prom the D iV'j Times, October 5.) The opinion is expressed by some of the Colonial journals, that the nr>t decisive blow inflicted by General Cameron on the "Waika'os w'll be the signal for a reactionary movement by the clerical and philo- Maori parties in favor of the Native race. It seems to be doubted whether defeat will brin«about the submission of the insurgent tribes, and it. ivS considered that an effort will be made to accomplish a compromise by which the direful effects of continued war may be averted from the Xa lives. In is supposed that after the po.ver of the Government has made itself felt in one or two decisive actions the willingness to make an arrangement will be free from the construction being placed on peiC.'ful overtures which the Natives h.iye ascribed to former 'ruces. It something of the kind b.not. done, we are told, the war will drag on to an indefinite period, said terminate only in the subjugation by force of ar-ns of every tribe in the island — the confiscation <<f every acre of Native land, and, in short, the virtual blotting out of the aboriginal population.

There is inur'h in these arguments which rt comm mv's them to the humane instincts of 'he colonists--, — and they will no doubt find exponents aud adherents in Kngland. uhvnT.fr principles have actuated the line of conduct which for many years characterised the administration of Native Government in New Zealand. Care for the Natives, anxious protection of their real or supposed rights and privileges, and fear of oviti-Ligit:,-.: their prejudices and national ideas, h:;Ve for many years formed the k<?y to tl'.i: policy of the Government. In the history of no previous Colony where then; was a large Native population, can be found in the policy of the domimnt power so much consideration for the aboriginal race. The most favorah!,-; opportunities hitve, since the foundation of die colony, been afforded for the operations of Missionary enterprise.

Possessing no serious preconceived religious prejudices — •no deep-rooted idol i try — the Maoris eagerly embrace 1 the doctrines of Ciiri.srinnit_y, and nominally at least the religion of the Missionaries has become the only creed of ths whole Native population. What more could hove been doiie to establish lasting pc ice and union between the two races ? And yet what is the position now ? We are not poing to attempt to Inice step by step the circumstPLnces which havo brought about the present stru^le. It is easy to ascribe to one or two leading questions the c irecfc cause of the cxi^tiny troubles, but we must go further back for the real element of destruction. It is not this or that dispute which has destroyed the peaceful relations of the P2uronean and Native r^ces, although they have perhaps -riven a form to til:: silent and unsuspected antagonism that has for years been growing in the Native mind.

The fact if, the whole scheme of Native Government was fioin the first a mistake — -an experiment based upon the most huirane and righteous principles, but nevertheless a mistake as applied to ihe p culiar circumstances if the Maori people. Abstractedly no Government is so secure as that of a nation whose people obey its laws more from a feeling of inborn respect for them than from a fear of their penalties. But a people does not roach this position except through centuries of moral and political education. The natural essence of authority is power, — be it moral, intellectual or physical. As applied to the English people, all these elements of power have for ages been working out that respect for and obedience to the laws which lias become an instinct with Englishmen. The laws embody the labors ot the b?st and wisest of the nation, ;-nd the exigencies of time have created their own requirements.

To apply to a race of savages (he moral as separated from the physical element of authority was a noble experiment. But it was an experiment of which we are now reaping the fruits, lt-ipidly as the Maories seized ihe tenets of Christianity, and remarkable as was the aptitude they betrayed for certain principles of law, they had for ages recognised but ouc principle of authority

amongst themselves — the power of might. There is no doubt that at the first outset of the English colonization of Now Zealand the natives had a vague idea oft the superior might of the Euiopeans. There are many circumstances connected with the early history of the. colony to prove that this feel ing, of respect existed. Kad the obligations of the treaty of Waitangi been rigidly enforced from the 'first— had .the first outrage on the laws which the natives themselves professed to recognise been sternly punished, there would j r )bably never have been any serious disputes between the two races. But this was not done ; the authority of the law was seldom or at best very ineffectually exerted, and the consequence was a disbelief of its power and contempt for the Gjvernment fro:r» which that law emanated. This processof disbelief has bean going on for years, every now and then making its existence felt, and with no attempt to check its operation. Occasionally sparks would fly up from the lurking embers of distrust and disaffection—onlytobecarefully covered up byconcessions and conciliations. The fire remained spreading silently and steadily under its covering, — until something — the Waitara dispute for example — suddenly kicked off the surface and admitting air to the glowing mass, its burst forth into flame. This smouldering antagonism has now again blazed forth, and this time embracing wider limits than before. At the last war the Government con ented itself, as on previous occasions, with covering it up. This time every ember must be extinguished. The power of the natives must be thorough!}' and completely destroyed. We are not called on to

destroy the natives themselves to effect tins result. One or two crushing defeats on the Waikato will not do this, although they would prepare the way. The power of the natives must be attacked in detail. Looking to the desired end — the firm establishment of the power of the Government — every obstacle in the way must be removed. First place the heel of authority on the insurgent tribes. — environ them with military settlements — intersect .their territories with roads, and at least render thi'm harmless, and then will be the time to consider plans for their welfare.

The treaty of Waitangi has been often quoted for and against, the NativesIt is. doubtless, un imperfect treaty on which to base the government of the Natives. Virtually it has been broken over and over again. Theoretically,

tlia Natives are regarded as British subjects, practically they have been treated less as subjects than as allies. The whole scheme of Native governhas been an anoiaiiy. The future policy of the Government must be based on a clearly defined foundation. We must start fairly with the asuumption 'hat every native of the colony is dc facto a subject of her Majesty. Undoubtedly we shall have to accommodate the administration of Native government to the peculiar circumstances and character of the Maories, but one principle must pervade the government of both Natives and Europeans — obedience. Once establish the paramount influence ofltfjritim.it-' aulhoriiv, and the details of government become easy ; Lut unless that is accom--p'is'k'd, the woik of legislation will be constantly interrupted.

"Whilst advocating the most vigorous measures against the insurgent tribes, we are not of those who would desire to see the Maovies blotted out from the Face of the earth. The Maoris are undoubtedly :i fine race, endowed with nr.ny rare and valuable qualities. Judicious treatment and enlightened governnvjut mi:, r ht have raised them to a posi ion unequalled in the history of modern colonisation, but the ver3 r peculiarity of their character has proved the greatest obstacle to the success of the policy which has been brought to bear oh them. If the race is to be spared —if the remnant of the once populous tribes of New Zealand is to be preserved — if we would desire to see created from if, a lasting monument of the elevating- and humanising influences of civilisation, the strong hand of power must not be withheld until the authority of the law, common alike to Europeans and natives, is firmly established and universally recognised. When that is done, it will be time to give play to that spirit of conciliation which may then be safely exercised. The first principles of law established, the details of Government can be. easily adapted to the peculiar character and ideas of the Natives. Then may we, with some show of reason, admit the Maori race to a voice in the Legislature of the colony, and the enthusiastic dream of Mr Fi'zgerald may to some extent be realised.