THE CHARGE OF BRIBING THE NATIVES.

Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 623, 13 October 1863, Page 7

THE CHARGE OF BRIBING THE NATIVES.

(From the Colonist, September 22.J "He fed them with flour and sugar, he appeased them, and, -J- am afraid) he cajoled them." These are the words of Mr. Fitzgerald to the meeting of electors at Lyttelton. They comprise careless charges, which an able politician and especially an ex-Mi-nister of the colony, should have paused before making. The remarks apply to Sir George Grey's management of the natives during his first period, of Governorship; and the idea was sedulously circulated during the time of Governor Browne's administration, the opponents of Sir George taking the advantage of his absence to malign and misrepresent him, little thinking that he should so speedily return to the discomfiture of ascusations like this. We had thought that this lame charge of "bribing" the natives had now been left only for the poorest reasoners and the most reckless party accusers, and should not have supposed that a man like Mr. Fitzgerald would overlook facts with which he should be familiar, and which not only rebut the charge as regarded Sir George's native policy, but make it recoil on Governor Browne, to praise or defend whom is the fashion of those who set themselves to disparage the present Governor. We scarcely expected to find Mr. Fitzgerald emulating this class, and making rash statements without having considered the facts. We copy the following dispatch from Sir George Grey to the Duke of Newcastle, in which a comparison is made between the pension policy of the two Governors : — Government House, Auckland, 2nd November, 1861. My Loed Duke— I have the honor to inclose to your Grace a return of all pensions given to native chiefs in this island from the year 1846/ to the present date, showing the names of the several chiefs, and the amount paid to each. . 2. It will be found that up to the date of my formerly quitting these islands, pensions had been paid to only six chiefs. ■'.''.■ 2. Timotiu and Wi Waka had each been severely wounded in action in her Majesty's service—the former of them had both eyes shot out. 4. The remaining four chiefs—Tamati Waka Nene, of the Bay of Islands; TesWherowhero, of Waikato ; Hori Kingi, of Wanganui; and Te Puni, of Wellington ; had each rendered many and faithful services to the British Crowns . ; 5. During my former long administration of affairs here, the largest sum paid in pensions to natives in any one year was £187 10s. Od. In the year 1860, £755 was paid in pensions to fourteen chiefs. lam anxious that these facts should stand on record, for during my absence from New. Zealand I have frequently seen it stated that I had gained a great personal influence over the New Zealand chiefs, by giving them large pensions. I have, &c, G. GREY. His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, KG., &c. This ought to be a sufficiently explicit contradiction to the favorite and easily circulated " sugar and blanket" accusation. The causes for thepensions to the six chiefs, never more than £30 a year to each, are definitely stated. And this small sum represented the annual expenditure during many years. Governor Browne contrived to dispose of fully four times the amount in pensions during the last year of his power here. Governor Grey gives good reason for his pension policy • we have seen no evidence of the necessity of the quadrupled allowance. We do not say such evidence does not exist; but in the face of such a comparison it is not exactly fair to bring an accusation of this kind against the Governor. " I am afraid he cajoled them." The question is, did Sir George Grey, or did he not

cajole the natives ; did he, as the disagreeable word implies, flatter, impose upon, and cheat them ? This we presume is not a charge to. rest on such a peradventure as the, colloquialism "I am afraid/V It;is ,a plain charge of political, dishonesty wnich would be disgraceful to the character of a viceroy. If such dishonesty existed, it should be plainly asserted, and the proofs of the charge as clearly produced. If there were no proofs to offer, Mr. Fitzgerald ought to have!abstained from using the word. Loose speaking is a great fault in public men; and this is a specimen of it. A man whose opinions and averments go forth to the public is bound by simple justice and honor to speak and write "by the card," and that rule ought to be specially stringent when the conduct of another is impeached. If Sir George Grey cheated and v imposed on the natives, tell us how, and we shall join issue with Mr. Fitzgerald in reprobation of such doings.